F1 testing: power outage disrupts Bahrain track day

Bahrain circuit power failure causes temporary halt in F1 preseason testing.

A power cut at the Bahrain International Circuit brought preseason Formula 1 testing to a temporary halt on day one. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday, plunging team garages and pitwall monitors into darkness, and extinguishing the track's floodlights as dusk set in.

A red flag was immediately issued, suspending the first afternoon session. The session eventually resumed at 6:10 p.m. local time and was extended by an hour, now concluding at 8 p.m., in order to make up for the lost time.

"At approximately 5 p.m. 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," said a spokesperson for the circuit.

The FIA added, "The FIA, Formula 1, and the teams have agreed to extend this afternoon's session by one hour to compensate for the time lost under the red flag. The session will now conclude at 8 p.m. local time."

Before the red flag, George Russell had remarked to Sky Sports, "I came to the pits and said 'it's dark out here, I need to change my visor!' Then I realized there are no floodlights around. It would have been hectic if this was an hour later and the sun had already set."

Despite the interruption, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc clocked the fastest lap time before the power outage, completing 32 laps with a time of 1:30.878. Earlier in the day, Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli topped the morning session.

This unforeseen disruption serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable elements that can impact Formula 1 testing. Teams will be eager to maximize their track time as they continue their preparations for the upcoming season.

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