Verstappen Leads Opening Day of Bahrain F1 testing

Max Verstappen set the fastest time during the morning session of the first three-day Formula 1 test in Bahrain on February 11, 2026. The reigning world champion, now a four-time titleholder, clocked a 1m 35.433s lap, outpacing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by just under two-tenths of a second.

The session was largely uninterrupted, with all eleven teams completing initial track running. Williams utilized the prospect for their first official on-track activity in preparation for the 2026 F1 season.

A single red flag briefly halted proceedings when Franco Colapinto experienced a technical issue, bringing his car to a stop between Turns 7 and 8.Teams are using these pre-season tests to refine car setups and gather crucial data ahead of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

Further testing is scheduled throughout the week,with teams continuing to evaluate performance and reliability.