When Is F1 2025 Pre-Season Testing? Dates, Drivers, Circuit And How To Watch

The 2025 F1 season gets underway next month but fans don’t have to wait long to see all the drivers in action during pre-season testing.

There are many reasons why this season could be one of the most exciting in the sport’s history.

Lewis Hamilton will go for his record-eighth Formula One drivers’ championship in the red of Ferrari after making the switch from Mercedes.

Max Verstappen will look to become the first driver in history to win five championships on the bounce. However, the likes of Hamilton, Lando Norris, George Russell, Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri will look to stop him in his tracks.

There are also a host of rookie drivers on the grid – including Hamilton’s replacement at Mercedes in Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Here’s everything you need to know about F1 pre-season testing ahead of a record 24-race calendar.

All 20 drivers. One epic show. The class of Formula 1 in 2025 🤩#F175LIVE pic.twitter.com/slZnmLR3z1

— Formula 1 (@F1) February 18, 2025

When Is F1 Pre-Season Testing?

The official pre-season test ahead of the F1 season takes place between Wednesday, February 26 and Friday, February 28.

This means that there are only three days for teams to fine-tune their cars before they head to Australia for the opening race of the season next month.

Testing hours have reduced significantly for pre-season over the years in F1. This year, teams will have 24 hours where drivers can take the cars out onto the track.

The track will be open for eight hours per day, starting at 7am (GMT) and ending at 4pm (GMT).

Teams can decide whether to give a driver a whole day’s worth of running or split the morning and afternoon sessions up between their pair.

Each driver will get 12 hours in the car over the three days. As long as they don’t crash or suffer a car breakdown.

Where Does Testing Take Place?

Pre-season testing ahead of the new F1 season will take place at the Bahrain International Circuit.

The track which will also host the fourth race of the 2025 season on April 13 has replaced the Circuit De Barcelona-Catelunya as the go-to location for pre-season testing in recent years.

This is thanks to reliably warm conditions, long straights and a mixture of corner speeds.

BREAKING: The 2025 F1 calendar has been announced, with the season starting in Australia for the first time since 2019! 📆🚨 pic.twitter.com/yI7wncsJ4T

— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) April 12, 2024

How Can I Watch Pre-Season Testing?

The good news for F1 fans is that every minute of pre-season testing will be broadcast live.

Sky Sports F1, the rights holder for the sport in the UK, will show all the testing action as well as every session of every race weekend in the 2025 calendar.

Channel 4 won’t be showing testing but will have highlights of every qualifying and race during the season – except for the British Grand Prix which they will show live.

Who Is On The Grid For 2025?

All 20 drivers on the 2025 grid will be in Bahrain for pre-season testing ahead of the 2025 F1 season.

There are a host of driver moves from last season’s grid – with veterans Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas left without a seat.

MCLAREN

Lando Norris

Oscar Piastri

FERRARI

Charles Leclerc

Lewis Hamilton

RED BULL

Max Verstappen

Liam Lawson

MERCEDES

George Russell

Andrea Kimi Antonelli

ASTON MARTIN

Fernando Alonso

Lance Stroll

ALPINE

Pierre Gasly

Jack Doohan

HAAS

Esteban Ocon

Oliver Bearman

RACING BULLS

Yuki Tsunoda

Isack Hadjar

WILLIAMS

Alex Albon

Carlos Sainz

SAUBER

Nico Hulkenberg

Gabriel Bortoleto

When Is The First Race Of The 2025 Season?

After pre-season testing, there will be just two weeks until the start of the new F1 season.

The season-opener takes place at Albert Park in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, March 16.

Abu Dhabi will play host to the final race of the season on December 7.