The two drivers took their first laps in the cockpit of the Prancing Horse’s Le Mans Hypercars during morning and afternoon sessions.

At the 5.412-kilometre Bahrain International Circuit, AF Corse driver Phil Hanson also made his debut in the 499P number 83, sporting the Giallo Modena livery, which the Briton will drive throughout the 2025 season.

In the morning, the Ferraris in red livery collectively completed 68 laps. In the second session the Hypercars from the Maranello-based manufacturer continued their work, completing a total of 77 laps. In the afternoon, Leclerc clocked a time of 1:50.460, securing the second best overall time, while Neubauer set a best lap time of 1:51.030, taking seventh place in the standings.

Thomas Neubauer: “Driving the 499P was fantastic. The speeds you reach with a car like this, as well as the feel it gives you throughout the entire circuit, allowed me to experience something completely new. I really enjoyed it. I want to thank Ferrari for giving me this opportunity and the entire team for helping me quickly learn so many aspects of our fantastic 499P.”

Arthur Leclerc: “I'm very pleased with the experience I had here in Bahrain. Climbing into the 499P is something extraordinary. The car is incredibly strong and demands a high level of attention and precision at every single moment if you want to complete a perfect lap. During these tests, I realised how complex the car is, yet at the same time, I enjoyed it immensely. The FIA WEC, where the 499P is a protagonist, is a championship that has become increasingly fascinating and competitive over recent seasons. It would be a dream to race the 499P in the future.”