McLaren breaks curfew in Bahrain, uses first ‘joker’ of 2025 F1 season. McLaren Works Overtime in Bahrain, No Penalty Due to Allowed Exception.

McLaren breaks curfew and uses one of the three seasonal jokers available in that time slot
In Bahrain, the Woking team worked past the permitted hours yesterday

FIA statement
Preparing for the race weekend required some extra hours from McLaren personnel, leading the papaya team to break the curfew imposed by the regulations.

In the time window in which the overtime occurred, teams are allowed three ‘jokers’ over the course of the season, and therefore no action will be taken against McLaren. Below is the official statement released by the Federation.

“Last night, McLaren Formula 1 Team personnel associated with the operation of the car were within the confines of the circuit during the fourteen-hour period that began at 20:30 on April 10, eighteen hours before the scheduled start time of the first Free Practice session, and four hours before the scheduled start time for preparations for FP1 at 10:30 on April 11. This was the first of the three individual exceptions permitted for the McLaren Formula 1 Team during the 2025 Formula 1 Championship season and therefore no action is required.”