2025 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix - Friday Practice - As it happened

Hamilton lowers the benchmark now to a 1m32.157s, less than tenth ahead of Antonelli. 

Verstappen copies Leclerc and runs wide at Turn 10. He's running around on the softs currently. 

Leclerc sets a 1m33.347s on the medium tyres. 

That's quickly beaten by Gasly, who goes 0.6s quicker. 

The first mistake of the weekend from Leclerc, who runs wide at the tricky Turn 10. 

With the sun now setting in Bahrain, FP2 will be a more representative session.

Sunday's race will take place at 4pm UK time, which is when FP2 gets underway.

It was F1 world championship leader Lando Norris who set the pace for McLaren. It was a largely unrepresentative session, however, given that qualifying will take place under the lights. 

Verstappen, Leclerc and Russell were all absent from FP1 after giving up their cars to allow for a rookie driver to race. 

A number of F1's top team bosses, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 boss Stefano Domenicali met to discuss the sport's engine rules.

They came to the following conclusions: 

• All parties are committed to the 2026 regulations and look forward to the prospect of exciting racing 
•  
• All parties agreed to continue discussions on the future technical direction of the sport
•  
• A level of electrification will always be part of any future considerations
•  
• The use of sustainable fuel will be an imperative
•  
• Consideration will be given to adjustments on financial regulations relating to Power Units as part of broader cost reductions
•  
• Policing of those regulations will be a priority

CLICK HERE: The full results from first practice in Bahrain

It's a good start to the weekend from Norris as he tops the timesheets.

Norris, Gasly, Hamilton, Albon, Ocon, Hulkenberg, Doohan, Lawson, Tsunoda and Piastri.

FP1 wasn't representative given the conditions. Qualifying and the race will take place under the lights. Also, Leclerc, Verstappen and Russell missed the session as they sat it out to give a rookie driver a chance.

Hamilton has moved into third in the Ferrari, 0.5s down on Norris' top time.

"Something is wrong with the clutch. I have lost power," Albon reports.

Norris remains on top ahead of Gasly, Albon, Ocon, Hulkenberg, Doohan, Lawson, Tsunoda, Piastri and Bortoleto. 

Norris sets a 1m33.204s to go 0.2s ahead of Gasly. 

The stewards have noted an incident between Browning and Albon. The two Williams drivers nearly collided there. 

Gasly, Albon, Ocon, Hulkenberg, Doohan, Tsunoda, Piastri, Lawson, Bortoleto and Hadjar. 

Gasly lowers the benchmark now to a 1m33.442s, 0.4s ahead of Albon.

He's the latest driver to try out the softs. He was on course to go fastest but ran wide at the final corner.

Piastri slots into second, 0.2s off Hulkenberg.

It's a Sauber 1-2. Hulkenberg goes 0.3s ahead of teammate Bortoleto at the top of the order. 

A 1m34.628s puts Bortoleto on top for Sauber in FP1. 

With 30 minutes on the clock. Bortoleto has hit the track on the softs. He's gone fastest in the first sector. 

Albon has just gone fastest for Williams.

He's on top ahead of Norris, Gasly, Piastri, Hulkenberg, Ocon, Lawson, Tsunoda, Hamilton and Doohan.

"It feels horrendous," Hamilton tells his engineer as he comes into the pit lane.