McLaren won the constructor's championship 80 days ago, at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, after 26 years.

They'll want to continue their winning ways and Lando Norris will be eager to fight for the drivers' championship.

McLaren's Lando Norris has joined the pack out on the track in Bahrain.

Oh dear. One of the engineer's screen says that rain is expected this afternoon.

One hour down, three more to go. Alpine's Pierre Gasly is still the fastest in the afternoon session.

Lots of red flow-vis paint on the front right side of Carlos Sainz's Williams, which will help tell the engineers about air flow.

15 laps for Max Verstappen, on the other end, Carlos Sainz has banked one.

Lando Norris is the only driver yet to clock in a lap.

The McLaren engineers are still working on the car as Lando Norris watches on. He's got his helmet on and no doubt wants to be out on the track.

Here's George Russell. He's swapped out the silver coat for his racing overalls.

He's on a flying lap, as Alpine's Pierre Gasly lets him through.

Alpine's Pierre Gasly has set the fastest time in the afternoon session, 1:31.443.

Max Verstappen is just 0.001 behind the Frenchman.

Esteban Ocon has made his way out on to the track.

Rookie Isack Hadjar has a bit of a spin, but nothing too major.

Charles Leclerc has made a quick trip into the pits. Max Verstappen is the only driver out on track at the moment. He's banked six laps so far.

Image source, Getty Images

Oliver Oakes gets to experience his first full season in Formula 1 as a team principal, after the 37-year-old replaced Bruno Famin at Alpine during the summer of the 2024 campaign.

The French team beat Haas and RB (now Racing Bulls) to sixth place in the constructors' championship last year and he told Sky Sports: "From the moment I arrived in the team, there was a real strong spirit anyway; we were trying to turn things around - I dare say that made me look good the second half of the year.

"It was clear to see how motivated everybody was after a tough start at the beginning of the year - and not just bring an upgrade and turn things around, but to dig deep and really work as a team, which was really great to see.

"Our main focus this year is starting off well at the beginning of the season. There was the little bit of disappointment last year that took a lot of energy from the team and we had to really work hard to catch up.

"I think what we're hoping for this year is that we can keep out heads down and start off on the right footing."

Charles Leclerc has a set of web-like aero rakes attached to the back of his Ferrari, this will help the team learn about air flow around the car.

No signs of George Russell yet on track.

Remember the silver jacket I mentioned? Here it is.

Image source, Getty Images

On his first lap, Max Verstappen has set a time of 1:33.344, in his Red Bull.

Other drivers have started to make their way onto the track, including Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

Isack Hadjar has set a time of 1:36.884 in the Racing Bulls.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen is out on the track too.

The first car is out on track.

It's rookie Isack Hadjar in the Racing Bulls.

He's taken over from Yuki Tsunoda, who managed to complete 78 laps.

Max Verstappen and Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar are in their cars.

The Mercedes engineers have formed a wall so we can't get a sneak peak of the car.

Charles Leclerc is getting his helmet on, I am sure we will see that Ferrari soon.

Still no action on the track yet. The engineers are busy adding the last touches before the drivers get to put in some laps.

I'm still thinking about George Russell's jacket, at least it's keeping him warm.