McLaren's underdog status is firmly a thing of the past. It must now build on an encouraging start when the lights go out in Melbourne.

After a low-key opening day in Bahrain, the second day of testing gave us a glimpse of the state of play at the top of F1. Norris, Leclerc and Antonelli all completed race simulations, with the three drivers opting for a two-stop strategy.

After three days of testing in Bahrain, McLaren have started as they finished last season, while Lewis Hamilton is positive about the beginning of his Ferrari career.

From McLaren’s performance, the midfield pecking order and Max Verstappen’s stance on booing, there was a lot to talk about on Wednesday.

Lewis Hamilton has shared his assessment of McLaren and Red Bull's performances during F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain. The Ferrari driver was impressed by McLaren's pace, particularly noting Lando Norris' strong showing.

Day 3 result as Hamilton trails Verstappen and Russell in final Bahrain session - Follow reaction after the end of the 2025 three-day pre-season test in Bahrain