Formula 1 Bahrain Pre-Season Testing
Bahrain F1 test red-flagged due to power outage
Second session of 2025 F1 testing interrupted due to a power failure across the Bahrain International Circiuit
Alex Kalinauckas
Edited: Feb 26, 2025, 8:18 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The second session on the opening day of 2025 Formula 1 pre-season testing was suspended for over an hour due to a power cut in the region surrounding the Bahrain International Circuit.
The issue struck just past 5pm local time, with a little under two hours of on-track action remaining.
The session was able to resume at 6.10pm local time, with no word from officials on whether the day will be extended as a result of the stoppage.
When this first occurred, floodlights around the track went out as dusk descended, with power lost in the pitlane and in paddock buildings at the same time.
It is not yet clear what caused the failure, with Bahrain circuit currently investigating the issue. F1 officials initially had no comment to make on the cause of the problem.
Once power had been restored, an F1 spokesperson issued the following statement of behalf of the track: “At approximately 5pm today, a power outage caused by an external substation failure led to the afternoon session on track to be paused.
“Power has since been restored and the afternoon session has resumed. We appreciate everyone’s patience.”
The power cut struck with many cars on track, which created striking images as they circulated just as the huge circuit spotlights went out.
But with the track marshalling and timing systems down as a result of the power cut, they were quickly called back to the pits by the red flag.
The session had already been taking place in rare overcast, cold and gloomy conditions in Bahrain, with sporadic spots of rain falling during the stoppage.
Some power systems remained online throughout this, with emergency lighting in paddock buildings staying on and TV broadcasts still in operation.
It is understood that the issue has struck the entire local area to the south of Bahrain island, which surrounds the desert track.
In anticipation of the track action eventually resuming, teams used generators they take to the grid ahead of races to keep tyre sets warm.
Cars continued to be fired intermittently in team garages as the stoppage went on, with some circuit floodlights working while others remain dark.
As the delay approached one hour in duration, more systems were becoming operational, with only the start-up of remaining spotlights preventing the action restarting earlier.
Photos from the Bahrain Pre-Season Testing
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing - Day 1
Formula 1
98
Read Also:
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article How long does it take drivers to figure out how good their car is?
Next article Massa legal battle over F1 2008 title could be thrown out before it begins
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Alex Kalinauckas
Who is Kimi Antonelli, F1 sprint polesitter at just 18?
Formula 1
Formula 1 May 3, 2025
Who is Kimi Antonelli, F1 sprint polesitter at just 18?
Why Bottas has the edge over Perez in 2026 F1 return race
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Apr 2, 2025
Why Bottas has the edge over Perez in 2026 F1 return race
What if Red Bull solved its second-car problem with a paint job?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Apr 1, 2025
What if Red Bull solved its second-car problem with a paint job?
Latest news
The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 13 h
The ten closest finishes from the 2026 NASCAR season
‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 13 h
‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
BMW "proud of what we achieved" after securing runner-up in 2026 WEC
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
15 h
BMW "proud of what we achieved" after securing runner-up in 2026 WEC
The numbers that reveal how sprint races have turned the MotoGP title fight upside down
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
17 h
The numbers that reveal how sprint races have turned the MotoGP title fight upside down
Feature
Discover prime content
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Formula 1
By Kevin Turner
Top 10 F1 cars of the 1970s
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe