F1 Testing 2025: Sky Sports activities’ Ted Kravitz selects pecking order for brand new season following three-day occasion in Bahrain

Following pre-season testing in Bahrain, Sky Sports activities F1’s Ted Kravitz selects his pecking order going into the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

1. McLaren

That is the one factor that I feel all people can agree on, is that if the Bahrain Grand Prix, even in these situations, occurred tomorrow, it will most likely be a McLaren one-two with Lando Norris simply shading Oscar Piastri.

Norris has been unashamedly a bit bit extra optimistic. It is bizarre although, as a result of speaking to Piastri this morning, he appeared a bit extra downbeat, however you by no means learn about Piastri.

Nevertheless it seems like it will be a one-two for McLaren. The consensus is that they’ve two tenths of a second per lap on the sector.

2. Ferrari
3. Mercedes
4. Pink Bull

You might throw a dustsheet over Max Verstappen’s Pink Bull, and Mercedes, and the very best of Ferrari, once they’re getting it proper.

I’ve gone for Mercedes and Ferrari the identical, after which the inherent tempo of the Pink Bull is a bit bit behind them. Nevertheless it is dependent upon who’s driving that Pink Bull.

Apparently, Mercedes suppose Ferrari are simply with them, precisely with them, and never even a tenth between them. So, it is rather, very finely poised between Ferrari and Mercedes.

However the huge query is, the place does Max Verstappen are available there? And on a superb day, with an incredible Max Verstappen lap, do you suppose he might beat each Mercedes and Ferrari? It is potential.

I am undecided Ferrari have as many points as some have advised, as a result of Charles Leclerc’s race run of yesterday (Thursday), was superb, and Hamilton’s saying that the automotive is fairly good.

5. Williams
6. Alpine

I am happening the Sainz race run of yesterday, which was stable. Albon has performed a superb time right now, and the Williams seems a superb bundle, and people two drivers, I feel, can see it forward of the Alpine. So, I am going Williams, then Alpine.

You can’t deny that Sainz-Albon goes to be, on the subject of Melbourne qualifying, extra dialled in than Pierre Gasly, who’s going to be proper up there, however Jack Doohan has had the form of take a look at that you’d anticipate from a rookie who’s feeling strain in all areas.

7. Haas

Subsequent is the unattainable alternative of what on earth Haas can have on the subject of qualifying in Melbourne. Maybe for not more than a little bit of extrapolation from some GPS figures, and gasoline corrected, as a result of we expect they’ve by no means run with lower than no less than half tanks, 50 kilos of gasoline in, and there is such a distinction in there, and people 10 kilos is price three tenths of a second.

You might throw three tenths of a second between Alpine-Williams, Williams-Alpine, Haas, after which RB, they might all be lined by three tenths of a second.

The Haas is an efficient automotive, Ayao Komatsu is just not fearful about its tempo, that is the essential factor. After I spoke to him yesterday, I mentioned, ‘do not it is advisable take the gasoline out to see the tempo?’ He mentioned, ‘I am not fearful concerning the tempo, I feel it is okay, we have to do this’. So I am proud of placing Haas immediately behind Alpine and Williams.

8. Aston Martin
9. Racing Bulls

I used to be going to present Aston Martin the advantage of the doubt, they’ve had a really tough day right now right here, and Lance Stroll has been in poor health, his sickness made Fernando Alonso go first, then Lance confirmed up, did half of the afternoon, then needed to go house once more as a result of he was in poor health, Fernando Alonso was again in. Compromised, very positively compromised final day. It is a clean canvas that Aston Martin, ready for Adrian Newey.

I used to be going to present them the advantage of the doubt, till I spoke to Lawrence Stroll, who was leaving, I congratulated him on changing into a grandfather, and he was like, ‘yeah, it is nice being a grandfather, you understand, unbelievable’.

After which I bought to the purpose of the automotive, and I mentioned, ‘oh, automotive seems higher’. (Ted imitates a disenchanted facial features pulled by Lawrence Stroll). They’ve dropped again. I am placing them, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll on a superb day, forward of RB. I am placing them eighth, however they could possibly be ninth.

10. Sauber

It is an enchancment, a bit bit from final 12 months, however they’re probably not about this 12 months, are they, Sauber? James Secret’s doing the very best he can. It is reliable-ish. It’ll give Bortoleto and Hulkenberg an opportunity to go round, however factors, it appears, can be fairly skinny on the bottom.

It would not have a lot of a steadiness, however they’ll race from there. But when it is true that Aston Martin is ninth forward of Sauber, then Adrian Newey’s first day of labor on Monday can not come rapidly sufficient.

When is the primary F1 race?

For the primary time since 2019, the season-opener can be held in Melbourne on the Australian Grand Prix on March 14-16. The primary race has switched from Bahrain to Australia as a result of Ramadan happening all through March.

There are 24 occasions on the 2025 F1 calendar, the identical quantity as final 12 months, with the season ending on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 5-7.

Watch all 24 race weekends from the 2025 Components 1 season stay on Sky Sports activities F1, beginning with the Australian GP on March 14-16. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime