F1 Pre-Season Testing Red Flagged After Circuit-Wide Power Failure

Lydia Mee | Feb 26, 2025

Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 leads Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Ferrari SF-24 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on March 02, 2024 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) / Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

The afternoon session of the first day of pre-season testing has been temporarily stopped due to a circuit-wide power cut at the Bahrain International Circuit.

With just under two hours to go on the first day of testing, it initially looked as though only Red Bull had experienced a power cut in their garage. However, as the red flag was waved, it was clear that the whole circuit had lost power, including the flood lights and media center.

Pre-season testing is a vital phase for F1 teams and drivers, as it allows them to fine-tune their vehicles before the championship officially kicks off.

More News: F1 Pre-Season Testing Day 1: Driver Timesheet After Morning Session

Mechanics are continuing to work on the cars in the garages with torches.

The timesheet was as follows just before the red flag:

1) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, 1:30.878, 32 laps

2) George Russell, Mercedes, 1:31.082, 10 laps

3) Lando Norris, McLaren, 1:31.251, 11 laps

4) Pierre Gasly, Alpine, 1:31.353, 24 laps

5) Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, 1:31.428, 78 laps

6 Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 1:31.444, 31 laps

7) Liam Lawson, Red Bull, 1:31.560, 58 laps

8) Alex Albon, Williams 1:31.573, 63 laps

9) Yuki Tsunoda, Racing Bulls, 1:31.610, 78 laps

10) Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, 1:31.834, 70 laps

11) Jack Doohan, Alpine 1:31.841, 68 laps

12) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin, 1:31.874, 46 laps

13) Carlos Sainz, Williams, 1:31.920, 24 laps

14) Oscar Piastri, McLaren, 1:32.084, 66 laps

15) Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, 1:32.169, 55 laps

16) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin, 1:32.332, 20 laps

17) Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls, 1:32.643, 33 laps

18) Esteban Ocon, Haas, 1:34.323, 35 laps

19) Oliver Bearman, Haas, 1:35.522, 72 laps 

20) Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber, no time set, 16 laps

*Drivers participating in afternoon session in bold

2025 Formula One Season Schedule

Pre-Season Testing

• Dates: 26-28 Feb
• Location: Bahrain, Sakhir
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 ARAMCO PRE-SEASON TESTING 2025
• Circuit: Pre-Season Testing

Australia

• Dates: 14-16 Mar
• Location: Australia, Melbourne
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Melbourne circuit

China

• Dates: 21-23 Mar
• Location: China, Shanghai
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN CHINESE GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Shanghai circuit

Japan

• Dates: 04-06 Apr
• Location: Japan, Suzuka
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 LENOVO JAPANESE GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Suzuka circuit

Bahrain

• Dates: 11-13 Apr
• Location: Bahrain, Sakhir
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Sakhir circuit

Saudi Arabia

• Dates: 18-20 Apr
• Location: Saudi Arabia, Jeddah
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 STC SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Jeddah circuit

Miami

• Dates: 02-04 May
• Location: Miami, Miami
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Miami circuit

Emilia-Romagna

• Dates: 16-18 May
• Location: Emilia-Romagna, Imola
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 AWS GRAN PREMIO DEL MADE IN ITALY E DELL'EMILIA-ROMAGNA 2025
• Circuit: Imola circuit

Monaco

• Dates: 23-25 May
• Location: Monaco, Monaco
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE MONACO 2025
• Circuit: Monaco circuit

Spain

• Dates: 30 May-01 Jun
• Location: Spain, Barcelona
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 ARAMCO GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2025
• Circuit: Barcelona circuit

Canada

• Dates: 13-15 Jun
• Location: Canada, Montréal
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2025
• Circuit: Montréal circuit

Austria

• Dates: 27-29 Jun
• Location: Austria, Spielberg
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Spielberg circuit

Great Britain

• Dates: 04-06 Jul
• Location: Great Britain, Silverstone
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS BRITISH GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Silverstone circuit

Belgium

• Dates: 25-27 Jul
• Location: Belgium, Spa-Francorchamps
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Spa-Francorchamps circuit

Hungary

• Dates: 01-03 Aug
• Location: Hungary, Budapest
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 LENOVO HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Budapest circuit

Netherlands

• Dates: 29-31 Aug
• Location: Netherlands, Zandvoort
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN DUTCH GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Zandvoort circuit

Italy

• Dates: 05-07 Sep
• Location: Italy, Monza
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAN PREMIO D’ITALIA 2025
• Circuit: Monza circuit

Azerbaijan

• Dates: 19-21 Sep
• Location: Azerbaijan, Baku
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Baku circuit

Singapore

• Dates: 03-05 Oct
• Location: Singapore, Marina Bay
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Marina Bay circuit

United States

• Dates: 17-19 Oct
• Location: United States, Austin
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Austin circuit

Mexico

• Dates: 24-26 Oct
• Location: Mexico, Mexico City
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MÉXICO 2025
• Circuit: Mexico City circuit

Brazil

• Dates: 07-09 Nov
• Location: Brazil, São Paulo
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES GRANDE PRÊMIO DE SÃO PAULO 2025
• Circuit: São Paulo circuit

Las Vegas

• Dates: 20-22 Nov
• Location: Las Vegas, Las Vegas
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Las Vegas circuit

Qatar

• Dates: 28-30 Nov
• Location: Qatar, Lusail
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS QATAR GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Lusail circuit

Abu Dhabi

• Dates: 05-07 Dec
• Location: Abu Dhabi, Yas Island
• Event Name: FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX 2025
• Circuit: Yas Island circuit