PREVIEW: Formula 2 returns to Sakhir for in-season testing

After Round 1 in Melbourne, the FIA Formula 2 paddock heads to the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir for in-season testing.

Following a baking hot first Sprint Race and then a washed-out Feature event, teams and drivers will be aiming to consolidate early learnings and gather up as much data as possible ahead of a return to competitive action in April around the same Sakhir venue.

Here is all you need to know for the in-season test.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Teams have been able to test already this year in Barcelona ahead of Round 1, but after the first taste of racing action this season, there’s another chance to learn more and refine things for 2025.

The test is a three-day event around the Bahrain International Circuit beginning on Wednesday, 26 March. The first segment on Day 1 gets underway at 12:30 local time, ending at 15:00 in the afternoon. Action resumes at 18:30 local time and ends at 21:00 under the floodlights. Days 2 and 3 also follow the same timetable on Thursday 27th and Friday 28th.

Teams will have the Hard and Soft Pirelli tyres available to them during the week, with five sets of the white-walled Prime and three sets of the softer Option compound allocated per car.

THE FIELD / STAT PACK

• The Bahrain International Circuit runs to a length of 5.412Km.
• The circuit has three DRS zones, the first along the start/finish straight and the second between Turns 3 and 4 and the final one between Turns 10 and 11 along the back straight.
• Rodin Motorsport and Zane Maloney were the fastest during the most recent test in Bahrain. The Bajan driver set a 1:41.501 in the afternoon session during pre-season testing in 2024.
• Following the Steward’s recommendations at the Melbourne Event, DAMS Lucas Oil’s car #11, Rodin Motorsports’ cars #16 and #17 and TRIDENT’s car #23 will not run on Day 3 of in-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, on March 28th.

WHERE TO FOLLOW

All three days of in-season testing will be available to follow via the live timing page on the official FIA Formula 2 website. Along with the laptimes on each day, check back in on the website for driver interviews, reactions and session reports for all three days of testing, and keep up to date with all the goings on in Bahrain on the F2 social media channels.

2025 FIA FORMULA 2 IN-SEASON TESTING ENTRY LIST