The Final Test: Challenges for Red Bull and Aston Martin
The second day of the Bahrain Formula 1 2026 test brought a mix of results for the teams, with Red Bull and Aston Martin facing unique hurdles. As the sun set over the desert circuit, Charles Leclerc of Ferrari claimed the top spot with a blistering 1m33.739s, setting the pace early in the three-day test.
Leclerc's achievement was notable, as he recorded the fastest time for his team in Bahrain, just an hour into the test. His SF-26, equipped with a distinctive new exhaust wing, showcased Ferrari's innovation. Meanwhile, Lando Norris of McLaren secured second place with a 1m34.052s, closely followed by Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes, who impressed with the fastest first and third sectors of his best lap.
However, Mercedes faced a setback as Antonelli's overall time of 1m34.158s left him just four-tenths of a second behind Leclerc. The Mercedes driver's performance, while impressive, was overshadowed by the team's previous best lap in Bahrain, which still holds the top spot.
The session also saw Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly of Williams and Alpine, respectively, secure the fourth and fifth positions with the fastest times so far for Mercedes engine customers. Red Bull, however, encountered challenges, finishing sixth in the times, but struggling with mileage, as they were one of three teams significantly behind in terms of track time.
Isack Hadjar, driving for Red Bull, completed the fewest laps of any driver, logging just 13 laps in the first 75 minutes of the four-hour session. The team's strategy of running one driver on day one may have contributed to this.
Cadillac's Sergio Perez faced a similar issue, taking an hour and 20 minutes to take to the track and another hour to complete a meaningful 15-lap stint. Despite improving his best time to 1m38.191s, Perez ended the session as the slowest, 1.4s off the 10th-placed Arvid Lindblad, who completed the most laps (75) of anyone.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, who had recorded the fewest laps in the first test, seemed set for a strong start. However, a pit lane return just before the end of the second hour abruptly ended his session, leaving him with 28 laps completed and a time of 1m36.536s, which is now the team's best.
The session was otherwise uneventful, with no team halting the proceedings due to on-track stops, aside from the usual procedural red flag in the final 10 minutes of all Bahrain test sessions.
The first session results:
1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 1m33.739s, 70 laps
2. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 1m34.052s, 54 laps
3. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 1m34.158s, 69 laps
4. Alex Albon (Williams) - 1m35.690s, 55 laps
5. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 1m35.898s, 61 laps
6. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) - 1m36.188s, 13 laps
7. Esteban Ocon (Haas) - 1m36.418s, 65 laps
8. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) - 1m36.536s, 28 laps
9. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) - 1m36.741s, 49 laps
10. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) - 1m36.769s, 75 laps
11. Sergio Perez (Cadillac) - 1m38.191s, 24 laps
These results set the stage for an intriguing final test, with teams and drivers pushing the boundaries of their machinery and strategies.
