F1 2026 Pre-Season Testing 2: Day 1 in Bahrain

F1 testing was back for another crucial three-day stint in Bahrain, with the 2026 season opener in Australia fast approaching. The next three days were the final opportunity for teams and drivers to understand their all-new cars from long runs to low-fuel flyers.

Last week’s running delivered productive mileage across the grid and helped ease early reliability fears in this new regulatory era. Every team reached 200 laps over the opening test, with Williams leading the way on total distance after racking up an impressive 422 laps across the three days. Attention across the next three days turns to potential upgrades, evolving procedures and how quickly drivers can adapt behind the wheel as development intensifies.

George Russell finished at the head of the timesheets as the opening day of the second 2026 pre-season test concluded at the Bahrain International Circuit, edging out Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc in a closely fought afternoon.

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  F1 2026 Pre-Season Testing 2: Day 2 in Bahrain

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  F1 2026 Pre-Season Testing 2: Day 3 in Bahrain

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  F1 2026 Pre-Season Testing 2: Full Report

Leclerc had initially set the benchmark during the morning session, posting a 1m 33.739s lap. However, as track evolution and cooler conditions took effect later in the day, lap times began to fall. Russell ultimately moved to the top with a 1m 33.459s, securing P1 by the narrowest of margins.

All teams bar one opted to rotate their drivers at the lunch break. Red Bull Racing were the exception, keeping Isack Hadjar in the RB22 after the Frenchman lost valuable mileage earlier in the day while the team completed work on the car.

A measured start to the afternoon

The second session began quietly when the pit lane opened, before Oliver Bearman became the first to venture out in the Haas. He was soon joined by Piastri and the Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton, with several teams using flow-vis paint and aero rakes as they continued to gather aerodynamic data in the early phases of running.

Just over an hour into the afternoon, proceedings were briefly halted. Lance Stroll lost the rear of his Aston Martin at Turn 11, sliding into the gravel and beaching the AMR26. A red flag was deployed while marshals recovered the car.

Running resumed shortly afterwards, with teams eager to maximise track time. With only two and a half days of testing remaining before the season opener in Australia on March 6–8, every lap carried added importance.

Conditions improve as times tumble

As dusk settled over Sakhir and track temperatures dropped to more representative race conditions, Piastri surged to the top of the order with a 1m 33.469s lap. The McLaren driver delivered a tidy effort that put him three tenths clear of Leclerc’s earlier morning time.

Stroll returned to action later in the session as Aston Martin F1 Team sought additional mileage, particularly after a power unit issue had sidelined Fernando Alonso for part of the morning programme.

Several drivers began to push more assertively in the final hours. Franco Colapinto and Russell were among those who experienced lock-ups under braking, while others used the closing stages to practise running in traffic and simulate race scenarios.

Before the chequered flag, the session concluded with a practice new-race-starts-light procedure. All cars returned to the pit lane, completed a formation lap and an additional formation lap, and then assembled on the grid for a simulated race start rehearsal.

Day 1 F1 2026 Pre-Season testing 2: Leaderboard