Lando Norris topped the McLaren timesheets, but it was Max Verstappen’s Red Bull performance that shocked the paddock on the first day of F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain.
The three-day test at the Bahrain International Circuit is the second of three events that make up an extended schedule of pre-season testing aimed at giving F1 teams a chance to adapt to the introduction of new power unit and chassis regulations for the 2026 season.
Red Bull, which is manufacturing its own engines for the first time since entering the sport in 2005, had already gone some way in dispelling doubts about its power unit with a strong showing at last month’s Barcelona Shakedown, but made a new statement in Bahrain on Wednesday.
Verstappen was first on track and topped the timesheets for most of the day, but more importantly he was able to put together an eye-catching and long stint in the second of the day’s two four-hour sessions, clocking up an impressive 136 laps in total.
In the end, he lost the top spot to reigning world champion Norris with just over an hour left, but the British rider’s time of 1 minute 34.669 seconds meant he finished the day 0.129 seconds behind second-placed Verstappen.
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See how active aero works in straight mode as the car tests active aero on the Bahrain circuit.
At this relatively early stage of testing, with the remaining time of this event and three days in Bahrain next week leading up to the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 8, teams will not necessarily be chasing maximum performance at this stage, so individual best times need to be viewed with caution.
There’s also the fact that teams like to hide their true pace until qualifying in Melbourne, and some onlookers thought that might have been the case with Mercedes on Wednesday, although George Russell’s best effort was 1.5 seconds off the pace in sixth place.
Mercedes also endured a chaotic afternoon with Kimi Antonelli stuck in the garage for more than half of the second session, but completed 30 laps in the final hour to move up to 11th on the timesheets.
Charles Leclerc was third, half a second behind Norris, and Ferrari was able to put in some solid laps, but it once again looked particularly difficult to handle, with Lewis Hamilton’s spin in the morning session highlighting its challenges.
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Lewis Hamilton has spoken out about the difficult conditions on the first day of testing in Bahrain, describing the lack of grip as “Monza downforce”.
There were two red flags that day, the first of which was caused by Alpine’s Franco Colapinto stopping on the track, but the problem did not keep the Argentine off the track for long.
Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg brought out a second red flag in the afternoon session, but was able to restart his car on track and racing resumed almost immediately.
Williams, who missed the entire Barcelona test due to an unprepared car, had a strong first day with Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon completing a combined 145 laps, the most by any team on Wednesday.
Aston Martin only took to the track for the final stage of the Barcelona event, but Lance Stroll did not make much of an impression as he was limited to just 36 laps due to power unit issues and finished more than five seconds off the pace.
2026 F1’s brand new team, Cadillac, continued their steady progress with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez completing a combined 107 laps.
Wolff: Red Bull is the benchmark
Mercedes manager Toto Wolff said Red Bull were setting a “benchmark” in Bahrain, while McLaren boss Zac Brown and Williams team principal admitted they were impressed with the Milton Keynes team.
“I expected them to be worse than they are now. They’ve done a very good job,” Wolff said.
“I would say the car, the power unit is the benchmark at the moment. And obviously Max is in the car and the combination is strong.”
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Toto Wolff has backed Mercedes amid the ongoing engine row and said the team had the support of the FIA.
“Look at their energy deployment today. They can deploy far more energy than anyone else on the straights. You’re talking one second per lap on consecutive laps.”
“We’ve seen it before on one lap, but now we’re seeing a similar straight-line development for 10 consecutive laps.
“Today, the first day of official testing, you always have to be careful, but I think they set a benchmark today.”
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Sky Sports’ Craig Slater explains whether Mercedes’ engine will be considered illegal for the 2026 season
Boles revealed that Williams had seen data showing Red Bull gaining more than half a second on the home straight of the Bahrain International Circuit alone.
He told Sky Sports News: “We’re constantly running six tenths of a second. You can’t get close to that in turn one. The speed into turn one is very impressive.”
“Red Bull was built from the ground up on a completely new program to deliver, increase reliability and deliver performance. They achieved all of that.”
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James Bolles admitted that changes to engine rules would “open up a can of worms” as controversy over compression ratio rules continues.
“I don’t think we can make any firm conclusions. If I had to go to Las Vegas (to bet on it), the big four would be the big four, but in what order it’s a bit difficult to say,” Brawn told Sky Sports F1 before McLaren’s Norris replaced Verstappen at the top of the timesheets.
“Mercedes were very strong in Spain, Max has set some great lap times around here, but the grid seems to be in a similar position.”
Off the track, the main topic of discussion remained Mercedes’ engines, but four other power unit manufacturers are said to have questioned their legality amid a dispute over the interpretation of compression ratio limits.
Wolff insisted the team’s engines were “100 per cent legal”, but former driver Hamilton was among those to disagree, calling on the FIA to “start on a level playing field for everyone”.
Sky Sports F1 Bahrain test schedule
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Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz takes a closer look at what F1 will look like in 2026 as the sport begins a new era of charging mode, more power, new teams and engine suppliers.
Test 1: Thursday 12th February, Friday 13th February
3pm: Final Hours of Track Driving Live 8pm: Test Lap 8:30pm: Ted’s Test Notebook
Test 2: Wednesday 18th, Thursday 19th, Friday 20th February
6:50am to 11:05am: Morning session live 11:55am to 4:10pm: Afternoon session live 8pm: Test lap
Watch every race of the 2026 F1 season live on Sky Sports, including the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8. Stream Sky Sports now – cancel anytime with no contract
