This session has finished. No further updates will be posted.
Here’s our report on final practice and a full run-down of the times.
Final practice ends with Oscar Piastri fastest on a 1’31.646, followed by Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc. Report to follow.
It’s looking tough for Yuki Tsunoda as well, who’s languishing down in 19th, ahead of only Lance Stroll.
Leclerc is the only non-McLaren driver to get within a second of Piastri, Hamilton is down in 10th.
As quick as McLaren appear, these times are still well over a second off the best seen yesterday in representative conditions.
“I can’t believe how fast these McLarens are at the moment,” remarks Gasly.
Russell improves to a second but he’s well over a second off Piastri.
Oscar Piastri sets a new benchmark with a 1’31.646 which puts him 1.328s ahead of Pierre Gasly.
Pierre Gasly immediately beats that by five hundredths of a second.
Max Verstappen lowers the best time to a 1’33.027 which puts him 0.297s ahead of Oscar Piastri.
A good lap by Alexander Albon puts the Williams driver fourth, half a second off Piastri.
“I’d probably go as far as saying that’s the least amount of grip I’ve ever had in an F1 car,” remarks Russell.
An unusual spin for George Russell at the exit of turn 10. That leaves the Mercedes pointing the wrong way until he gathers it up again.
Leclerc’s left-hand wing mirror just flew off.
Lawson is unhappy with Russell overtaking him before the last corner: “Dude, like, just, so annoying, no point to do that.”
The cars are back up to speed and Verstappen moves up to second, 0.234s off Piastri.
We’ve got a stationary Sauber: Nico Hulkenberg has come to a stop at turn eight, the Virtual Safety Car has been deployed, though he’s close to a marshal post so it shouldn’t take long to recover him.
Liam Lawson “The wind is making a difference into turn 11 especially.” He’s 10th at the moment, less than six tenths of a second off team mate Isack Hadjar.
Max Verstappen, not for the first time in a practice session this year, declares himself profoundly unhappy with his car’s set-up.
Oscar Piastri improves to a 1’33.324 which puts him almost half a second ahead of his team mate.
Lando Norris goes fastest on a 1’33.796 which puts him 1.05s ahead of Lewis Hamilton.
Both Ferrari drivers have put up times on the softs, Charles Leclerc ahead by five-hundredths of a second with a 1’34.846.
Lewis Hamilton is out on softs but hasn’t set a time yet. He begins a lap now.
Ocon reports his car is still bouncing a lot in turn 12 and he can’t tackle the corner flat-out as a result.
Ocon joins his team mate on track. The air temperatures is 32C, slightly lower than it was in first practice, and the track temperature is also down a little at 43C.
We’re used to seeing Pirelli increase tyres pressures after Friday running but this weekend they’ve taken the rare step of reducing them. The mandatory minimum rear tyre pressures are 1psi lower than yesterday at 20psi.
Oliver Bearman heads out first as final practice begin. He put his Haas an encouraging ninth yesterday.
McLaren were comfortably quickest yesterday, Oscar Piastri half a second ahead of their closest rivals in second practice, but expect that gap to narrow quite a bit today.
As was the case with first practice yesterday, the hot temperatures at the track will make this a less than useful session for the teams.
Third practice for the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix is coming up next.
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix
- Live: 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying
- McLaren comfortably quickest, Tsunoda last for Red Bull in final practice
- As it happened: 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix third practice
- McLaren’s huge lead in practice shows rivals haven’t turned up engines – Norris
- Ferrari’s upgrade worked says Hamilton but Leclerc fears they aren’t fast enough
