Norris fastest as power cut disrupts Bahrain F1 testing

SAKHIR, Bahrain: Lando Norris topped the timesheets for McLaren on the opening day of Formula One pre-season testing in Bahrain, which was disrupted by a power outage on Wednesday.

A substation failure plunged garages into darkness, forcing teams to rely on torches and back-up generators. The session was extended by an hour to compensate for lost time.

“I came to the pits and said, ‘it’s dark out here. I need to change my visor.’ Then I realised there are no floodlights around,” said Mercedes driver George Russell. “It would have been hectic if this was an hour later and the sun had already set.”

Lewis Hamilton, making his Ferrari debut, completed 70 laps and finished fifth in the morning session. The seven-time world champion is aiming for a record eighth title in 2025. Meanwhile, his Mercedes successor, 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli, was the fastest in the morning session.

The teams will continue testing in Bahrain as they prepare for the season opener on March 2.