George Russell of Mercedes set the fastest lap time on the first day of the final Formula 1 pre-season test in Bahrain, clocking a 1:33.459, just ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri who finished with a 1:33.469. The testing session, held at the Bahrain International Circuit, marks the final preparations before the 2026 season opener in Australia on March 6-8.
Russell’s lap, achieved using Pirelli’s C3 compound tyres, was a mere one hundredth of a second faster than Piastri’s, according to the FIA. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured third place with a time of 1:33.739, set during the morning session using a prototype Pirelli compound.
The day wasn’t without its challenges for several teams. Lewis Hamilton, in his first significant running with Ferrari, experienced a technical issue that limited his track time to 44 laps and a best time of 1:34.299, placing him seventh. Ferrari had previously enjoyed six days of testing without major incident before Wednesday’s setback.
Reigning world champion Lando Norris finished fourth for McLaren, a little over three tenths of a second behind his teammate Piastri. Kimi Antonelli, who topped the final day of the first test at the same circuit, was fifth with a lap of 1:34.158.
Red Bull Racing’s Isack Hadjar faced early technical difficulties, delaying his participation in the morning session. He eventually completed 66 laps, achieving a best time of 1:34.260. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso likewise began testing, posting a best time of 1:36.
The session saw a red flag when Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin went off track at Turn 11, losing the rear of the car. The car was recovered, allowing teams to resume their testing programs with two and a half days of pre-season running remaining. Several teams utilized flow-vis paint and aero rakes on their cars for early data collection.
Mercedes’ Russell’s fastest time surpassed the quickest lap set by Kimi Antonelli during the final day of the previous test at Bahrain, demonstrating continued progress for the team. The test is crucial for teams to refine their car setups and gather data ahead of the competitive season.
