George Russell
George Russell

Day 1 of second F1 2026 Bahrain pre-season testing as it happened

Recap the first day of the second F1 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain.

KEY MOMENTS:

George Russell produced the fastest time of the day - and pre-season testing so far - with a 1m33.459s as Mercedes led the way, while its rivals hit trouble. 

McLaren's Oscar Piastri was second-fastest, just 0.010s behind Russell, with Charles Leclerc third in the Ferrari. 

Red Bull, Aston Martin and Ferrari all had spells consigned to their respective garages due to problems throughout the first day of the second Bahrain test. 

Preparations for the new F1 campaign are ramping up as official pre-season testing continues in Bahrain.

After a five-day private shakedown in Barcelona at the end of January, all 11 teams are back in action as the Bahrain International Circuit hosts two, three-day official pre-season tests before the 2026 F1 campaign gets underway. 

The second and final three-day test is on 18-20 February. Testing takes place between 7am and 4pm with a one-hour lunch break each day.

18 Feb 2026
16:15
Back for day two on Thursday!

The first day of running in Bahrain is done and dusted, with Mercedes leading the way while its rivals ran into problems. 

Thanks for joining us and be sure to be back here when we resume our live coverage at 6.30am UK time on Thursday for all the action from day two. 

16:07
End of Day 1 Results
2026 F1 Bahrain Pre-Season Test 2: Day 1 (4pm)
PosDriverNat.TeamTimeLaps
1George RussellGBRMercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team1m33.459s76
2Oscar PiastriAUSMcLaren Mastercard F1 Team1m33.469s70
3Charles LeclercMONScuderia Ferrari HP1m33.739s70
4Lando NorrisGBRMcLaren Mastercard F1 Team1m34.052s54
5Kimi AntonelliITAMercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team1m34.158s69
6Isack HadjarFRAOracle Red Bull Racing1m34.260s66
7Lewis HamiltonGBRScuderia Ferrari HP1m34.299s44
8Carlos SainzESPAtlassian Williams F1 Team1m35.113s55
9Franco ColapintoARGBWT Alpine F1 Team1m35.254s60
10Gabriel BortoletoBRAAudi Revolut F1 Team1m35.263s71
11Alex AlbonTHAAtlassian Williams F1 Team1m35.690s55
12Liam LawsonNZLVisa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team1m35.753s61
13Ollie BearmanGBRTGR Haas F1 Team1m35.778s42
14Pierre GaslyFRABWT Alpine F1 Team1m35.898s61
15Lance StrollCANAston Martin Aramco F1 Team1m35.974s26
16Esteban OconFRATGR Haas F1 Team1m36.418s65
17Fernando AlonsoESPAston Martin Aramco F1 Team1m36.536s28
18Nico HulkenbergGERAudi Revolut F1 Team1m36.741s49
19Arvid LindbladGBRVisa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team1m36.769s75
20Valtteri BottasFINCadillac F1 Team1m36.798s35
21Sergio PerezMEXCadillac F1 Team1m38.191s24
16:03
Russell ends day fastest

And with that, it's the end of the opening day of the second Bahrain test. George Russell is fastest for Mercedes, edging out McLaren's Oscar Piastri.

16:03

It's lights out and away we go! A pretty good start all round. 

Practice start in Bahrain
Practice start in Bahrain
16:01
Mercedes leads day one of final Bahrain F1 test as rivals hit trouble

Mercedes ended the opening day of the second Bahrain F1 test fastest of all. 

Report ✍️

Mercedes leads day one of final Bahrain F1 test as rivals hit trouble

George Russell, Mercedes F1, 2026 Bahrain test
George Russell, Mercedes F1, 2026 Bahrain test
© XPB Images

 

 

 

15:58

This is going to plan so far. After the 10 cars lined up on the grid, we have been given notice of an extra formation lap ahead of the standing start practice. 

15:56

We have 10 cars heading out on track for the practice start procedure. Only Lance Stroll's Aston Martin is missing. 

15:51

We are now cycling through the FIA's system tests, including the longer race start procedure. So we shall see how that goes.

15:46

Isack Hadjar has just passed Lewis Hamilton on the run to Turn 4, with both drivers on a long run and Hamilton on much older tyres. 

15:29
New fastest lap from Russell!

It's second time lucky for Mercedes' George Russell, who sets a 1m33.459s to take top spot away from McLaren's Oscar Piastri by just 0.010s. 

That's a new fastest time of pre-season testing in Bahrain. 

15:26

George Russell had been on for his best lap of the day, having gone fastest of anyone in the first sector, but the Mercedes driver locks up and runs deep at Turn 10!

That ruins any chance of Russell snatching the quickest lap of the day from Oscar Piastri. The Briton threw his hand up in frustration after failing to make the corner. 

15:21
Hamilton finally back out

After being stuck in the garage for a large chunk of the afternoon, Lewis Hamilton is finally back out in the Ferrari as he looks to add to his tally of 24 laps. 

15:18
Race start tests coming later

The FIA will evaluate a new longer race start procedure sequence at the end of today's running in response to safety concerns. 

"At approximately 18:50 a red flag will be shown and all cars will return to the pit lane," the FIA explained. "The cars will then complete a formation lap, followed by an additional formation lap, before lining up on the grid for a simulated race start.

"Once all cars are in position, a new Pre-Start Warning will begin: all grid panels will flash blue for 5 seconds. After the blue warning ends, the usual start sequence will begin."

15:08

Isack Hadjar looks like he could be on to challenge for the fastest time after going purple in sector one, but the Red Bull driver's lap fades away. 

It is still an improvement that sees Hadjar go sixth ahead of Lewis Hamilton, but the Frenchman is 0.791s off the pace. 

15:02
Lap times after seven hours
2026 F1 Bahrain Pre-Season Test 2: Day 1 (3pm)
PosDriverNat.TeamTimeLaps
1Oscar PiastriAUSMcLaren Mastercard F1 Team1m33.469s53
2Charles LeclercMONScuderia Ferrari HP1m33.739s70
3George RussellGBRMercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team1m33.748s55
4Lando NorrisGBRMcLaren Mastercard F1 Team1m34.052s54
5Kimi AntonelliITAMercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team1m34.158s69
6Lewis HamiltonGBRScuderia Ferrari HP1m34.299s24
7Isack HadjarFRAOracle Red Bull Racing1m34.530s46
8Carlos SainzESPAtlassian Williams F1 Team1m35.113s40
9Franco ColapintoARGBWT Alpine F1 Team1m35.361s42
10Gabriel BortoletoBRAAudi Revolut F1 Team1m35.511s48
11Alex AlbonTHAAtlassian Williams F1 Team1m35.690s55
12Liam LawsonNZLVisa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team1m35.753s41
13Pierre GaslyFRABWT Alpine F1 Team1m35.898s61
14Esteban OconFRATGR Haas F1 Team1m36.418s65
15Fernando AlonsoESPAston Martin Aramco F1 Team1m36.536s28
16Lance StrollCANAston Martin Aramco F1 Team1m36.680s15
17Nico HulkenbergGERAudi Revolut F1 Team1m36.741s49
18Arvid LindbladGBRVisa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team1m36.769s75
19Ollie BearmanGBRTGR Haas F1 Team1m36.770s30
20Sergio PerezMEXCadillac F1 Team1m38.191s24
21Valtteri BottasFINCadillac F1 Team1m40.508s18
14:42

Lance Stroll is finally back out lapping in the Aston Martin after his earlier spin into the gravel at Turn 11, which caused a red flag.

14:39
Lap counts so far

Here are the current lap totals of the drivers taking part in the afternoon session 

George Russell (Mercedes) - 45

Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 40

Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) - 40

Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - 39

Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) - 37

Franco Colapinto (Alpine) - 33

Carlos Sainz (Williams) - 31

Oliver Bearman (Haas) - 25

Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 24

Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) - 17

Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) - 7

Gabriel Bortoleto
Gabriel Bortoleto
14:35

Franco Colapinto slightly improves his best time but the Alpine driver stays ninth. 

Just Colapinto, Oscar Piastri, Carlos Sainz, Gabriel Bortoleto and Valtteri Bottas on track at the moment. 

14:25

Red Bull's Isack Hadjar has improved on his time and moved up to seventh, one second off the pace. 

14:15
Trouble for Ferrari?

It seems as though Ferrari may have run into its first major issue of pre-season testing. 

Lewis Hamilton has been stuck in the garage for a little while now and the screens are up. That's usually a sign of significant work being carried out. 

There's less than two hours remaining in the afternoon session. 

14:04

George Russell shoots up to third on a 1m33.748s, putting the Mercedes driver 0.279s off the new pacesetter. 

14:03
Lap times after six hours
2026 F1 Bahrain Pre-Season Test 2: Day 1 (2pm)
PosDriverNat.TeamTimeLaps
1Oscar PiastriAUSMcLaren Mastercard F1 Team1m33.469s32
2Charles LeclercMONScuderia Ferrari HP1m33.739s70
3Lando NorrisGBRMcLaren Mastercard F1 Team1m34.052s54
4Kimi AntonelliITAMercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team1m34.158s69
5Lewis HamiltonGBRScuderia Ferrari HP1m34.299s24
6George RussellGBRMercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team1m34.588s32
7Carlos SainzESPAtlassian Williams F1 Team1m35.378s24
8Franco ColapintoARGBWT Alpine F1 Team1m35.475s24
9Alex AlbonTHAAtlassian Williams F1 Team1m35.690s55
10Liam LawsonNZLVisa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team1m35.753s34
11Pierre GaslyFRABWT Alpine F1 Team1m35.898s61
12Isack HadjarFRAOracle Red Bull Racing1m36.188s28
13Esteban OconFRATGR Haas F1 Team1m36.418s65
14Gabriel BortoletoBRAAudi Revolut F1 Team1m36.448s25
15Fernando AlonsoESPAston Martin Aramco F1 Team1m36.536s28
16Nico HulkenbergGERAudi Revolut F1 Team1m36.741s49
17Arvid LindbladGBRVisa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team1m36.769s75
18Ollie BearmanGBRTGR Haas F1 Team1m36.770s25
19Lance StrollCANAston Martin Aramco F1 Team1m38.177s7
20Sergio PerezMEXCadillac F1 Team1m38.191s24
21Valtteri BottasFINCadillac F1 Team1m42.150s6
13:56
Piastri sets new fastest time

Oscar Piastri goes fastest for McLaren on a 1m33.469s on medium tyres. That beats Charles Leclerc's previous best time by 0.270s. 

13:55
More sprint races under consideration

Another update from today's F1 Commission meeting is that there have been talks about potentially doubling the amount of sprint weekends from six to 12. 

"There were discussions around the possibility of increasing the Sprint events up to 12 based on the demand for Sprints from fans and promoters," the FIA said. 

13:47
Update from the F1 power unit advisory committee

"Over recent weeks and months, the FIA and the Power Unit Manufacturers have collaboratively developed a methodology to quantify how the compression ratio changes from ambient to operating conditions," an FIA statement read.

"Following validation of this approach, a proposal has been submitted whereby, from 1 August 2026, compliance with the compression ratio limit must be demonstrated not only at ambient conditions, but also at a representative operating temperature of 130°C.

"The vote has been submitted to the Power Unit Manufacturers, and its outcome is expected within the next 10 days and will be communicated in due course. As with all Formula 1 regulatory changes, any amendment remains subject to final approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council."

George Russell
George Russell

Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter

Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox