Leclerc Sets Pace in Bahrain Testing as Red Bull Faces Issues

Charles Leclerc of Ferrari topped the timesheet during the second morning of Formula 1’s opening Bahrain pre-season test on February 12, 2026. The session was marked by reliability concerns for Mercedes and Red Bull, alongside issues for Cadillac.

Leclerc’s Quick Lap

Leclerc recorded a lap time of 1:34.273, surpassing Lando Norris’s benchmark of 1:34.669 set on Wednesday, though Norris’s time was achieved using medium tires while Leclerc utilized soft tires during the session [Motorsport.com].

Challenges for Red Bull and Mercedes

Red Bull experienced a hydraulic leak on the chassis during car construction, limiting Isack Hadjar to only one lap at the end of the morning session [Motorsport.com]. Mercedes faced a power unit issue with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, restricting him to just three laps before the session’s conclusion [Motorsport.com]. George Russell was scheduled to capture over for the afternoon session.

Other Notable Moments

Aston Martin was sidelined with a Honda engine issue, and Cadillac experienced sensor problems, delaying Sergio Perez’s participation in the opening hour [PlanetF1.com]. Nico Hulkenberg had a pit lane stall during a practice start, highlighting challenges with the new launch configuration without the MGU-H [PlanetF1.com].

Lindblad Leads in Mileage

Arvid Lindblad of Racing Bulls completed the most laps during the morning session, totaling 75 laps, while Charles Leclerc was close behind [GPblog.com]. Lindblad’s high lap count was attributed to power-unit checks [GrandPrixNews.com].

Looking Ahead

Testing continues in Bahrain, with teams working to resolve reliability issues and refine their car setups ahead of the upcoming season. The focus remains on maximizing track time and gathering crucial data to optimize performance.