Bahrain Bites: McLaren Draw First Blood in Friday Practice
Welcome to the Sakhir desert for the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, the fourth round of what has already been a thrilling Formula 1 season! The floodlights are up, the air is warm, and the teams have hit the track for the first day of practice sessions. While Friday’s running is always about gathering data and fine-tuning setups, there were certainly some talking points emerging as the chequered flag fell on FP2.
The Reddit community over at r/formula1 certainly had plenty to say after the FP2 classification was released. The general consensus seems to be that McLaren looked particularly strong, with comments highlighting their apparent dominance. One user even quipped, “McFastest”. It’s worth remembering, as many pointed out, that these are just practice times and things can change dramatically before qualifying. However, the speed of the McLarens certainly caught the eye.
Conversely, there was discussion around Red Bull’s performance, with some suggesting they might be “searching for a magic bullet” after an FP2 that didn’t quite meet expectations. One prediction was that Red Bull would spend the night in the simulator to get Max Verstappen “right up there” by tomorrow. Indeed, some observers noted that Verstappen completed a significant number of laps on his second set of tyres, potentially focusing on tyre degradation and setup adjustments in the hot conditions. This could explain why their low-fuel runs appeared quicker than their high-fuel runs, suggesting they were gathering crucial data for the race.
Meanwhile, other teams and drivers also garnered attention. There was a mention of George Russell’s consistent performance for Mercedes, even if the car isn’t currently at the pace of McLaren or Red Bull. The impressive showing of rookies like Isack Hadjar for Racing Bulls and Ollie Bearman for Haas also sparked discussion. Bearman, in particular, drew praise for his P9 in FP2.
It’s important to remember the context of the Bahrain International Circuit. As the first race in the Middle East to host F1 back in 200415…, it has a rich history and is now a firmly established part of the calendar, holding a contract until at least 2036. The circuit is known for its night race format, which not only makes for a spectacular visual but also influences track temperatures and car performance. With four long straights, three of them featuring DRS, overtaking is generally possible here.
Pirelli have brought the hardest compounds in their range (C1, C2, and C3) to Bahrain, the same selection as in Japan23…. However, the significant difference in temperatures compared to Suzuka means teams will need a different approach to tyre management. While a two-stop strategy has been typical in the past, Pirelli suggests that modifications to the 2025 tyre compounds could make a one-stop strategy a more realistic possibility depending on the track temperature26…. FP2, run at a similar time to the early part of the race, would have provided valuable data on this front.
Looking ahead, the teams will be poring over the data gathered today, making crucial adjustments to their cars before Free Practice 3 and Qualifying on Saturday. While McLaren appear to have set the early pace, Formula 1 has a habit of throwing up surprises. As one Reddit user wisely stated, it’s best not to draw definitive conclusions from practice sessions just yer. However, the initial signs point towards an intriguing battle at the front, and we can’t wait to see how the rest of the weekend unfolds under the Bahraini floodlights.
