Russell Leads Mercedes 1-2 as Verstappen Suffers Early Bahrain Setback
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George Russell delivered a strong opening statement for Mercedes by topping first practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix, with teammate Lewis Hamilton completing a surprise 1-2 for the Silver Arrows. The session offered an early glimpse of form ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season opener, and Mercedes looked immediately competitive under the floodlights at Sakhir.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc set the third-fastest time, keeping the Scuderia within striking distance as teams began fine-tuning their cars for race weekend. By contrast, Red Bull faced an uncharacteristic setback when Max Verstappen encountered engine-related issues and could manage only seventh on the timesheets. While practice pace does not always translate directly into qualifying or race performance, the Dutchman’s interrupted run will be a concern for the reigning champions.
The opening session highlighted how closely matched the front-running teams may be this season, with Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull all showing flashes of speed. Bahrain’s demanding mix of traction zones, braking stability and tire management is expected to provide a revealing test as teams continue to gather data and prepare for the first competitive battle of the year.
