F1 LIVE | Follow FP2 for the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix

This season, the Bahrain Grand Prix is not the season-opener, as that role returned to Melbourne, after the three-day pre-season testing event was hosted in Sakhir. FP2 will get underway at 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT).

FP1 now serves as a better guide for the fans than drawing conclusions from pre-season testing that took place roughly a month and a half ago.

Unlike previous seasons, weather conditions were very different back in February, and some teams even fitted the wet tyres. Now, neither the fans nor the drivers need to worry about the rain, as the predicted temperature is 30 degrees Celsius for FP2.

Previously, McLaren did not have the best of track records at the Bahrain circuit in recent years. Even as the Woking-based team seems to be the heavy favourite entering the weekend, for example, and team in general remain cautious about their chances. The last time a McLaren driver was on the podium in Bahrain was in 2010, when Lewis Hamilton finished third.

It is very tight in the drivers' championship after three rounds have been completed so far this season. With three different Grand Prix winners and Lewis Hamilton winning the Sprint in China, Lando Norris leads in the standings ahead of Max Verstappen.

The current gap between the championship rivals stands at a single point. Oscar Piastri follows them, trailing his teammate by 13 points in total, after the Australian finished third at the Suzuka Circuit.

In terms of the constructors' standings, McLaren have a comfortable lead ahead of Mercedes, scoring 36 more points so far. On the other hand, Ferrari had a difficult start to the year other than Hamilton's outstanding result in Shanghai during the Sprint, only scoring 35 points so far in 2025.