Kimi Antonelli

F1 Bahrain Testing as it happened: Kimi Antonelli lays down new Mercedes marker

Live updates from the second day of the second F1 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain.

KEY MOMENTS:

Kimi Antonelli sets fastest lap for Mercedes
Red flag after Fernando Alonso stops on track
Lewis Hamilton back out after Ferrari problems
Ferrari catch rivals' eyes with 'upside down' rear wing

Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli has produced the fastest lap of F1 pre-season testing on the penultimate day of running in Bahrain.

Lewis Hamilton will conclude his pre-season programme by spending all day in the Ferrari, before teammate Charles Leclerc takes over for the final day.

Ferrari has captured the attention of the F1 paddock by debuting an innovative 'upside down' rear wing design.

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.

19 Feb 2026

14:01

Lap times after six hours

2026 F1 Bahrain Pre-Season Test 2: Day 2 (2pm)
Pos	Driver	Nat.	Team	Time	Laps
1	Oscar Piastri	AUS	McLaren Mastercard F1 Team	1m32.861s	28
2	Max Verstappen	NED	Oracle Red Bull Racing	1m33.162s	79
3	Lando Norris	GBR	McLaren Mastercard F1 Team	1m33.453s	72
4	Kimi Antonelli	ITA	Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team	1m33.875s	42
5	Nico Hulkenberg	GER	Audi Revolut F1 Team	1m33.987s	25
6	George Russell	GBR	Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team	1m34.111s	77
7	Alex Albon	THA	Atlassian Williams F1 Team	1m35.130s	80
8	Gabriel Bortoleto	BRA	Audi Revolut F1 Team	1m35.263s	29
9	Ollie Bearman	GBR	TGR Haas F1 Team	1m35.279s	69
10	Franco Colapinto	ARG	BWT Alpine F1 Team	1m35.506s	88
11	Liam Lawson	NZL	Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team	1m36.959s	75
12	Lewis Hamilton	GBR	Scuderia Ferrari HP	1m37.385s	43
13	Fernando Alonso	ESP	Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team	1m37.472s	68
14	Esteban Ocon	FRA	TGR Haas F1 Team	1m37.570s	29
15	Sergio Perez	MEX	Cadillac F1 Team	1m39.323s	20
16	Valtteri Bottas	FIN	Cadillac F1 Team	1m40.193s	58

13:54

Just six cars on track currently, with long runs seemingly the focus.

13:38

Piastri raises the benchmark

Oscar Piastri has set a new test best of 1m32.861s on a new set of medium tyres with around two hours and 22 minutes to go.

13:37

Only Piastri, Perez and Colapinto on track right now.

13:31

Ferrari getting in some pitstop practice.

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13:26

The Aston Martin has been returned to pit lane.

13:23

Verstappen doesn't find any improvement, but the best of the tyre is gone.

Hulkenberg, meanwhile, moves up to fifth on the C4 tyre.

13:21

Verstappen heads onto another flying lap on the C3s.

13:16

Verstappen ups pace

Max Verstappen has just gone even quicker with a 1m33.162s to pull 0.291s clear of Lando Norris.

13:13

Wolff calls out at 'BS' Mercedes rumours

Toto Wolff had an extraordinary and foul-mouthed rant at rumours surrounding his Mercedes F1 team heading into the 2026 F1 season.

You can read the full story below ⬇️

TOTO WOLFF IN FOUL-MOUTHED RANT AT MERCEDES RUMOURS

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff

13:10

Back to green

Fernando Alonso's stricken Aston Martin has finally been recovered and the track is live once again.

13:05

Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin is still sitting out on the track.

Aston Martin mechanics have arrived on the scene but are currently not touching the AMR26, which is displaying warning signals which indicate an electrical issue and something which is likely related to the Honda power unit.

13:00

Lap times after five hours

2026 F1 Bahrain Pre-Season Test 2: Day 2 (1pm)
Pos	Driver	Nat.	Team	Time	Laps
1	Max Verstappen	NED	Oracle Red Bull Racing	1m33.444s	68
2	Lando Norris	GBR	McLaren Mastercard F1 Team	1m33.453s	72
3	George Russell	GBR	Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team	1m34.111s	77
4	Kimi Antonelli	ITA	Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team	1m34.523s	19
5	Nico Hulkenberg	GER	Audi Revolut F1 Team	1m34.684s	15
6	Alex Albon	THA	Atlassian Williams F1 Team	1m35.130s	71
7	Gabriel Bortoleto	BRA	Audi Revolut F1 Team	1m35.263s	29
8	Ollie Bearman	GBR	TGR Haas F1 Team	1m35.279s	69
9	Oscar Piastri	AUS	McLaren Mastercard F1 Team	1m35.340s	12
10	Franco Colapinto	ARG	BWT Alpine F1 Team	1m35.506s	62
11	Liam Lawson	NZL	Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team	1m36.959s	52
12	Fernando Alonso	ESP	Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team	1m37.472s	68
13	Esteban Ocon	FRA	TGR Haas F1 Team	1m38.114s	10
14	Lewis Hamilton	GBR	Scuderia Ferrari HP	1m38.316s	31
15	Valtteri Bottas	FIN	Cadillac F1 Team	1m40.193s	58

12:54

Red flag!

Fernando Alonso has come to a halt at Turn 4, bringing an end to his race run.

That causes the first red flag of the day.

12:45

New benchmark from Verstappen

Max Verstappen has pipped Lando Norris's previous benchmark by 0.009s with a 1m33.444s.

12:28

FIA urged to be “open-minded” over 2026 F1 energy management fears

Carlos Sainz is wary of the energy management demands faced by drivers in F1 2026 and has urged the FIA to be "open-minded" to change.

Read more ⬇️

FIA urged to be “open-minded” over 2026 F1 energy management fears

Carlos Sainz, Williams Racing, 2026 Bahrain F1 test — Carlos Sainz, Williams Racing, 2026 Bahrain F1 test
© XPB Images

12:22

Who's driving this afternoon?

Quite a few driver changes during the lunch break. Here's a reminder of who's driving this afternoon:

McLaren: Oscar Piastri

Mercedes: Kimi Antonelli

Red Bull: Max Verstappen

Ferrari: Lewis Hamilton

Williams: Alex Albon

Racing Bulls: Liam Lawson

Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso

Haas: Esteban Ocon

Audi: Nico Hulkenberg

Alpine: Franco Colapinto

Cadillac: Sergio Perez

12:09

Interesting. After making headlines this morning with an 'upside down' rear wing, Ferrari has reverted to a traditional rear-wing configuration this afternoon.

12:07

Ferrari downplay Hamilton problem

Speaking during the lunch break, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur was quick to downplay the issue which kept Lewis Hamilton in the garage for three hours.

The seven-time world champion has been straight out early in the afternoon session to make up for lost time.

Read the full story ⬇️

FERRARI TIGHT-LIPPED OVER 'SMALL ISSUE' THAT HALTED HAMILTON

Lewis Hamilton

12:02

Lando Norris makes U-turn on 2026 F1 cars: ‘I agree with Verstappen on a lot’

Lando Norris says he agrees with Max Verstappen and other drivers on some criticisms of the new cars.

Read more ⬇️

Lando Norris makes U-turn on 2026 F1 cars: ‘I agree with Verstappen on a lot’

Lando Norris, McLaren Racing, 2026 Bahrain F1 test — Lando Norris, McLaren Racing, 2026 Bahrain F1 test
© XPB Images

12:00

Afternoon session underway!

The green light signals the resumption of Thursday's running as the track goes live for the afternoon session.

11:16

Here's an image of Lewis Hamilton getting the jump on George Russell off the line during the pre-lunch break practice start.

F1 Practice Start Bahrain

11:05

Lap times at the lunch break

2026 F1 Bahrain Pre-Season Test 2: Day 2 (11am)
Pos	Driver	Nat.	Team	Time	Laps
1	Lando Norris	GBR	McLaren Mastercard F1 Team	1m33.453s	72
2	Max Verstappen	NED	Oracle Red Bull Racing	1m33.584s	56
3	George Russell	GBR	Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team	1m34.111s	77
4	Alex Albon	THA	Atlassian Williams F1 Team	1m35.130s	71
5	Gabriel Bortoleto	BRA	Audi Revolut F1 Team	1m35.263s	29
6	Ollie Bearman	GBR	TGR Haas F1 Team	1m35.279s	69
7	Franco Colapinto	ARG	BWT Alpine F1 Team	1m35.506s	54
8	Liam Lawson	NZL	Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team	1m36.959s	27
9	Fernando Alonso	ESP	Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team	1m37.472s	40
10	Lewis Hamilton	GBR	Scuderia Ferrari HP	1m39.670s	5
11	Valtteri Bottas	FIN	Cadillac F1 Team	1m40.193s	58

11:03

Norris tops morning session

After that bit of fun, the chequered flag signals the end of the morning session, which was topped by McLaren's Lando Norris.

11:02

George Russell doesn't get off the line well and Lewis Hamilton, who has a much better launch, jumps his former Mercedes teammate off the line to win the latest half-lap Bahrain GP!

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