P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren’s Lando Norris topped a scorching hot opening practice session at the 2025 F1 Bahrain GP, setting a time of 1:33.204s.
Norris led the pack in Bahrain, with Gasly and Hamilton following closely behind to secure a peculiar top three. Andrea Kimi Antonelli faced a forgettable session, heading back to the pits early on due to a significant issue with his Mercedes W16. The hot and unusual daytime conditions in Bahrain made FP1 challenging, with six rookies participating and Luke Browning performing impressively for Williams in 13th place. The high temperatures also played a role in the surprising order of the top ten drivers, with Norris setting the pace ahead of Gasly and Hamilton. Williams’ Alex Albon and Haas’ Esteban Ocon completed the top five, with other unexpected names like Nico Hulkenberg and Jack Doohan also making an appearance in the top half of the timesheet. Ferrari’s Dino Beganovic faced a tough outing, finishing behind lance Stroll and Felipe Drugovich, while Ryo Hirakawa and Frederik Vesti battled for position in the mid-field. Aymu Iwasa held his own in place of Max Verstappen, while Antonelli’s troubles left him at the bottom of the timesheet in a challenging FP1 session ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
