F1 – Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc Quickest as Pre-Season Testing Ends in Bahrain
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped the final day of Formula 1’s pre-season test schedule with the fastest time of the six days, posting a time of 1:31.992 to conclude the week as the only driver below the 1m32s mark.1
Leclerc led throughout the final day, using C3 compound Pirelli tyres to achieve a time of 1:32.655. He then switched to softer C4 tyres and ultimately posted his test-best time.1 Following the Monegasque driver on the final day’s timesheet was defending world champion Lando Norris.
The Briton was at the wheel of the MCL40 in the afternoon and, despite missing the first two hours of his final test outing, used C3 compound tyres to slot into P2 with a lap of 1:32.871. This left Norris as the fourth quickest driver of the test.1
Kimi Antonelli was the test’s second quickest man, posting a lap of 1:32.803 on C3 tyres on Day 2. Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri was third quickest overall with a Day 2 time of 1:32.861. Piastri ended day 3 in P11 with a time of 1:34.352.2
Last year’s championship runner-up Max Verstappen was third quickest on the final day. The Dutchman posted a best lap of 1:33.109 on Pirelli’s prototype tyres, leaving him fifth fastest across the test.1
Friday’s fourth-fastest driver was Mercedes’ George Russell, who set a time of 1:33.197. That was four places ahead of Antonelli, who ran in the morning. The Italian had a demanding session, with a pneumatic pressure problem on his car bringing out the red flags. The W17 then needed a power unit change before Russell took over.1
Pierre Gasly put some gloss on Alpine’s week by using the softest Pirelli tyre, the C5 and setting a time of 1:33.421. That put him fifth on the timesheet, 0.066s clear of Haas’ Oliver Bearman, who used C3 tyres for his best lap.1
Gabriel Bortoleto took Audi’s R26 to P7 with a C4 lap of 1:33.755, even as 2026 rookie Arvid Lindblad finished eighth on 1:34.149 after putting in a marathon 165 laps for Racing Bulls. The top 10 order was rounded out by Williams’ Carlos Sainz.3
Further back, there were more issues for Aston Martin. Lance Stroll managed just six untimed laps for the Silverstone-based team, as an engine parts shortage stemming from Fernando Alonso’s battery issues on Thursday left the team unable to run further.1
Bahrain Pre-Season Test – Day 3 Results
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:31.992s | 132 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:32.871s | 47 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 1:33.109s | 65 |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:33.197s | 82 |
| 5 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:33.421s | 118 |
| 6 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:33.487s | 88 |
| 7 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | 1:33.755s | 71 |
| 8 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:33.916s | 49 |
| 9 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 1:34.149s | 165 |
| 10 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:34.342s | 141 |