F1 pre-season testing thrown into chaos as session RED FLAGGED due to shock event

The afternoon test session ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season has been red-flagged.

On Wednesday, the first day of testing ahead of the much-anticipated 2025 F1 season got underway at the Bahrain International Circuit.

In the morning, the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Oscar Piastri and Liam Lawson took to the track, with 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli setting the quickest lap.

The new Mercedes star clocked a fastest lap of 1:31.428, 0.132 seconds ahead of Lawson who was in second place.

Williams star Alexander Albon was in third place, with a time of 1:31.573,

RB's Yuki Tsunosa came next with a fastest lap of 1:31.610.

Hamilton was in fifth place, with his fastest lap being a 1:31.834.

In the afternoon, it was the turn of drivers such as Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, George Russell and Carlos Sainz.

However, with about 1 hour and 55 minutes left of the session, the red flag came out after a power cut occurred at the track. A number of garages along the pit lane were left without power and mechanics were seen walking around with torches as they continued to work on the cars.

As reported by F1 journalist Chris Medland, who wrote: "The power has just gone out at the track. Oops.

"Red flag. A lot of the garages are without power too."

A report on the Sky Sports website read: "There's been a power cut at the Bahrain International Circuit, so testing has stopped.

"First, we heard news that the Red Bull garage had a power cut but it turns out the entire venue has no power. Remarkable."

Workers at the track will now be looking to get the problem fixed as soon as possible.

If no solution can be found, the session is at risk of being cancelled with the sky starting to turn dark.

At the time of the red flag, Ferrari star Leclerc is at the top of the standings, with a time of 1:30.878, followed by Russell, who set a 1:31.082, and Norris was third, with his best lap being clocked at 1:31.251.