Bahrain Testing 2 Completed
February 18-20, 2026 • 3 Days at Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain Testing 1 Completed
February 11-13, 2026 • 3 Days at Bahrain International Circuit
2026 Testing Concluded
Bahrain International Circuit
Season Starts
6 - 8
March 2026
Australian Grand Prix
Pre-Season Testing 2 - Concluded Results
February 18-20, 2026 • Bahrain International Circuit
📊 Test 2 - Day 1 Results - Tuesday, Feb 18
Fastest Lap Times
George Russell
Mercedes-AMG
1:33.459
76 laps completed
Oscar Piastri
McLaren-Mercedes
1:33.469
+0.010s gap
Charles Leclerc
Scuderia Ferrari
1:33.739
Morning benchmark
⚡ Russell Edges Piastri by 0.010s
In an incredibly tight session, George Russell topped the timesheets by just one hundredth of a second over Oscar Piastri. Mercedes showed strong pace returning to Bahrain for the second test.
🚩 Stroll Causes Red Flag
Lance Stroll brought out the red flag after beaching his Aston Martin at Turn 11. The stoppage disrupted afternoon running but teams quickly recovered their programs.
⚠️ Aston Martin Power Unit Issues
Fernando Alonso experienced power unit problems that significantly limited Aston Martin's running. The team continues to face reliability challenges heading into the season.
🏁 Race Start Practice
Teams conducted practice race start procedures at the end of the session, giving drivers valuable experience with the new 2026 clutch and launch systems.
Other Notable Performances
📊 Test 2 - Day 2 Results - Wednesday, Feb 19
Fastest Lap Times
Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes-AMG
1:32.803
0.6s faster than Day 1
Oscar Piastri
McLaren-Mercedes
+0.058s
Consistent McLaren pace
Max Verstappen
Red Bull-Ford
~+0.3s
139 laps - highest of test!
⚡ Antonelli Lowers Benchmark
Mercedes' rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time of 1:32.803, an impressive 0.6 seconds quicker than Day 1's best. The Italian continues to impress in his debut season.
🔄 Verstappen's Monster 139-Lap Run
Max Verstappen completed a remarkable 139 laps - the highest single-day total of the entire test. Red Bull focused heavily on reliability and race simulation data.
🏎️ Hamilton Fourth for Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton finished fourth fastest as Ferrari continued their preparations. The seven-time champion gathered valuable data ahead of the season opener.
🚩 Alonso Red Flag
Fernando Alonso caused a red flag after stopping on track. Aston Martin's troubles continued with only 68 laps completed, adding to their pre-season concerns.
Other Notable Performances
📊 Test 2 - Day 3 Results - Thursday, Feb 20
Final Day Highlights
Charles Leclerc
Scuderia Ferrari
1:31.992
🏆 Fastest of entire test!
Lando Norris
McLaren-Mercedes
+0.879s
Reigning World Champion
Max Verstappen
Red Bull-Ford
Top 3
Solid final day
🏆 Leclerc Sets Testing Benchmark
Charles Leclerc's 1:31.992 was the fastest time of the entire pre-season test - nearly 0.9 seconds clear of Lando Norris. Ferrari look like genuine title contenders heading into the season.
⚠️ Aston Martin Battery Woes
Aston Martin's troubled test continued with battery issues limiting Lance Stroll to just 6 laps with no timed lap. The team faces significant work before Melbourne.
🔧 Antonelli Pneumatic Issue
Kimi Antonelli's morning session was cut short due to a pneumatic issue. Mercedes aimed to recover the lost running in the afternoon session.
🔄 Lindblad Achieves 165 Laps
Red Bull reserve driver Arvid Lindblad completed an impressive 165 laps - the highest single-day mileage of testing. Sainz was the first to use the C5 soft compound tyres.
Other Notable Performances
Pre-Season Testing 2 Summary
Fastest Overall
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 1:31.992
Highest Mileage
Verstappen 139 laps (Day 2), Lindblad 165 (Day 3)
Frontrunners
Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, Red Bull
Pre-Season Testing 1 - Results Archive
February 11-13, 2026 • Bahrain International Circuit
📊 Day 3 Results - Friday, Feb 13
Fastest Lap Times
Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes
Fastest time of the day
George Russell
Mercedes
Morning pace leader
Oscar Piastri
McLaren-Mercedes
High mileage day
⚡ Mercedes Bounce Back Strong
After reliability issues on Days 1-2, Mercedes had their best day. Antonelli set fastest time and doubled his previous lap count, while Russell completed a full race distance in the morning.
🏁 Hamilton's 150-Lap Ferrari Run
Lewis Hamilton completed 150 laps testing Ferrari's Spec-A baseline car, comparing configurations and tire behavior. He reported the SF-26 "felt generally good" with upgrades expected for Test 2.
🔋 Red Bull Ford Engine Impresses
Both Mercedes and Ferrari identified Red Bull's Ford powertrain as the benchmark. Pierre Wache praised their progress but admitted they're "still behind" Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari on pace.
⚠️ Aston Martin Struggles Continue
Aston Martin's troubled pre-season continued with just 72 laps on Day 3 (202 total for the test). Team admitted they're "behind schedule" and have "a lot of performance still to unlock."
Three-Day Test Summary
Top Performers
Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren identified as frontrunners
Power Unit Leaders
Red Bull-Ford praised for reliability and performance
Next Test
Same venue, 4 days to analyze before Test 2 begins
📊 Day 2 Results - Thursday, Feb 12
Fastest Lap Times
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
1:34.273
100+ laps completed
Lando Norris
McLaren-Mercedes
+0.5s
Reigning World Champion
Oliver Bearman
Ferrari
+1.0s
Strong full-day run
🏁 Ferrari Dominates Day 2
Charles Leclerc set the fastest time of 1:34.273 in the morning session, remaining unbeaten throughout the day. Both Ferrari drivers surpassed 100 laps despite hot conditions.
🔧 Morning Stoppages
McLaren, Cadillac, and Alpine experienced morning stoppages. Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli completed only 3 laps due to power unit issues before Russell took over.
⚡ Russell Fourth, Hadjar Fifth
George Russell recovered to place fourth after taking over from Antonelli. Red Bull's Isack Hadjar completed the top five despite early technical problems.
🎯 Safety Systems Checks
Race Control conducted yellow flag, red flag, and Virtual Safety Car checks at day's end, with all drivers responding appropriately to the test procedures.
Other Notable Performances
📊 Day 1 Results - Wednesday, Feb 11
Fastest Lap Times
Lando Norris
McLaren-Mercedes
Fastest Overall
Max Verstappen
Red Bull-Ford
Morning Pace Leader
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
Strong Reliability
🏎️ McLaren Edge Out Red Bull
Lando Norris topped the timesheets on Day 1, narrowly beating Max Verstappen who dominated the morning session. McLaren's Mercedes power unit showed impressive pace.
⚡ Red Bull-Ford "The Benchmark"
Rival teams claim the Red Bull-Ford power unit appears to be the benchmark in testing, with Verstappen setting strong lap times and completing high mileage.
🔋 Mercedes Early Race Simulation
Mercedes conducted an early race simulation that caught rivals off guard. Williams described it as "a laugh in everyone's face" given the timing and competitiveness.
🎯 2026 Cars Faster Than Expected
Pirelli confirmed the 2026 cars are performing faster than anticipated, with lap times similar to 2025 levels despite the new regulations.
Pre-Season Testing 2 Schedule (Feb 18-20)
Tuesday, Feb 18
Bahrain International Circuit
Wednesday, Feb 19
Bahrain International Circuit
Thursday, Feb 20
Bahrain International Circuit
Barcelona Shakedown - Week 1
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
January 27-31, 2026 • 5 Days of Shakedown Testing
🏆 Hamilton Sets Pace for Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets on the final day of testing, giving Ferrari an impressive end to the Barcelona shakedown week. The seven-time world champion described it as "a hugely enjoyable week" with the SF-26.
⚡ Mercedes Show "Relentless Pace"
George Russell posted the quickest time on Day 3, with Mercedes displaying impressive reliability and consistent pace throughout the week. Martin Brundle noted the team's "relentless pace and reliability can't be ignored."
🏎️ Aston Martin Debuts Newey's Design
Aston Martin finally debuted their 2026 challenger featuring Adrian Newey's design influence. Team Principal Mike Krack reflected on an "emotional" first run for the new car with Honda power.
🔧 McLaren Face Technical Issues
McLaren suffered fuel system issues during testing, though Oscar Piastri confirmed the "bugs" were fixed and described his first drive in the MCL42 positively. Lando Norris debuted the car and shared the team's learnings from the shakedown.
🚀 Red Bull's Positive Start
Red Bull Racing surprised themselves with a strong showing in Barcelona. George Russell commented he was "impressed" as Red Bull made a positive start to F1's new era with their RB26.
⚠️ Williams Miss First Test
Williams Racing was unable to participate in the Barcelona shakedown with their 2026 car not ready in time for the first test session.
Overall Assessment
The Barcelona shakedown provided teams with their first real-world data on F1's new era of regulations. The 2026 technical rules featuring active aerodynamics, 50% electric hybrid power, and sustainable fuels were successfully tested by nine teams across the five-day session.
While testing times don't always reflect true race pace, the shakedown gave fans their first glimpse of the competitive order, with Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull appearing to lead the way into the new regulatory era.
2026 Team Launches
Red Bull Racing
RB26 Launch
January 23, 2026
Oracle Red Bull Racing unveiled their 2026 challenger, showcasing the new aerodynamic regulations and hybrid powertrain.
Watch LaunchFerrari
SF-26 Launch
January 21, 2026
Scuderia Ferrari presented the SF-26 at Maranello, featuring innovative aerodynamic solutions for the new technical era.
Watch LaunchMercedes-AMG
W17 Launch
January 22, 2026
Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team revealed the W17 with major updates to their aerodynamic philosophy and powertrain.
Watch LaunchMcLaren
MCL42 Launch
January 24, 2026
McLaren Racing launched the MCL42 with an eye-catching papaya livery and advanced Mercedes power unit integration.
Watch LaunchAston Martin
AMR26 Launch
January 25, 2026
Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team unveiled the AMR26 with Adrian Newey's design influence and Honda power.
Watch LaunchAlpine
A526 Launch
January 20, 2026
BWT Alpine F1 Team presented the A526 with a striking blue and pink livery and renewed Mercedes partnership.
Watch LaunchMore Coming Soon
Additional Team Launches
Williams, Racing Bulls, Haas, Sauber, and Cadillac will unveil their 2026 challengers in the coming weeks.
Testing Information
📍 Location Details
Circuit
Bahrain International Circuit
Location
Sakhir, Bahrain
Track Length
5.412 km (3.363 miles)
Time Zone
GMT+3 (Arabia Standard Time)
📋 Testing Rules
3 days of official pre-season testing
Each team limited to 2 cars on track
New 2026 technical regulations in effect
Mandatory use of active aerodynamics
50% electric power from new hybrid systems
Sustainable fuels required for all sessions