Bahrain is the new venue for F1 winter testing due to favorable weather and central location. The 2025 testing, involving 10 teams over three days, precedes the Australian Grand Prix season opener on 16 March.

Mercedes unveiled on Monday their new car for the 2025 Formula One season ahead of its on-track debut in Bahrain this week during pre-season testing. "The W16 builds on the learnings from its predecessor,

Lewis Hamilton fifth fastest on full testing debut for Ferrari in Bahrain - Hamilton completed 70 laps on a trouble-free morning.

Hamilton was on track during the morning session on day one of 2025 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, with Charles Leclerc set to take over in the afternoon. Surprisingly, 18-year-old Italian Kimi Antonelli topped the session, with Hamilton's Mercedes replacement beating his seven-time world champion predecessor.

Mercedes have released images of the W16 as George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli lead the Silver Arrows charge in 2025; watch the first of three days of testing in Bahrain live on Sky Sports F1 from 6.

F1 season gets underway this week as Bahrain hosts the official three-day pre-season test for all 10 teams. It is the fifth year running that the Bahrain International Circuits hosts the pre-season test,