Leclerc Leads Final Day of 2026 F1 Testing in Bahrain
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari concluded the final day of Formula 1’s pre-season testing in Bahrain with the fastest time, signaling a strong start for the team as they prepare for the 2026 season. Leclerc’s best lap of 1m31.992s, set on the softer C4 tire, was 0.879 seconds faster than McLaren’s Lando Norris, who used the C3 tire.
Testing Results and Key Performances
Leclerc completed 132 laps during the day, consistently topping the timesheets throughout the final four hours of running. His fastest time was 2.6 seconds slower than Carlos Sainz’s best from pre-season testing in 2025, the last season under the previous ground effect regulations.
The top four drivers – Leclerc, Norris, Max Verstappen (Red Bull), and George Russell (Mercedes) – demonstrated competitive pace, though Verstappen and Russell focused on longer runs in the final hour using the C3-equivalent test tire.
Top Ten Drivers – Final Day of Testing
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1m31.992s
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1m32.871s
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1m33.109s
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 1m33.197s
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 1m33.421s
- Ollie Bearman (Haas) – 1m33.487s
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) – 1m33.755s
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1m33.916s
- Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) – 1m34.149s
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 1m34.342s
Team Performance and Notable Developments
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly secured fifth place with a time of 1m33.421s on the C5 tire, while Haas driver Ollie Bearman finished sixth. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto showed encouraging progress, ending the day in seventh. Arvid Lindblad of Racing Bulls completed the highest number of laps on a single day with 165.
Aston Martin faced challenges, with engine partner Honda limiting their mileage. Lance Stroll completed only six laps, and the team concluded its program more than two hours before the test ended.
Cadillac achieved its best time of the test with Valtteri Bottas, while Williams’ Carlos Sainz finished tenth, 2.3 seconds off the pace despite using the C5 tire.
Looking Ahead
The pre-season testing concluded with Ferrari appearing strong, but the competitive landscape remains unclear. The first race of the 2026 Formula 1 season will provide a more definitive assessment of each team’s performance and the impact of the new regulations.
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