Antonelli tops penultimate day of 2026 F1 testing as Alonso stoppage raises Honda concerns
Kimi Antonelli put Mercedes atop the timesheets on Day 2 of the final 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain, but the day was marked by a red flag caused by Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin due to a Honda power unit failure. The session highlighted both competitive promise and lingering reliability concerns with the new cars just days before the season begins.
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time on the penultimate day of 2026 pre-season testing in Bahrain, while Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin caused a red flag due to a Honda power unit failure. The session provided a final major data point for teams ahead of the new season, mixing promising pace with persistent reliability questions.
Why it matters:
Pre-season testing is the final, crucial stress test before the competitive season begins. Antonelli's pace suggests Mercedes may have found a strong baseline, while Alonso's stoppage—Aston Martin's second in two days—raises immediate red flags about the reliability of their new Honda power unit partnership. These final sessions shape the narrative and expectations heading into the first race.
The details:
- Antonelli's Day: The Mercedes junior, taking over from George Russell in the afternoon, clocked a 1:32.803 on C3 tires to lead the timesheets by 0.058 seconds over McLaren's Oscar Piastri.
- Alonso's Issue: The Aston Martin driver stopped on track after 50 minutes of the afternoon session with a loss of power. Honda confirmed a power unit issue, and Alonso did not return for the rest of the day, compounding reliability worries after teammate Lance Stroll caused a red flag on Wednesday.
- Mixed Fortunes Elsewhere:
- Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull, completing a hefty 139 laps in a typically robust showing.
- Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari running was disrupted, with a morning issue limiting him to five laps and a rear brake problem in the afternoon, though he still managed to set the fourth-fastest time.
- Nico Hulkenberg posted Audi's fastest lap of testing so far, with the team also showing impressive straight-line speed through the speed traps.
- Revised Start Procedure: The day concluded with a third trial of a proposed new start procedure for 2026, designed to manage increased turbo lag from the new engine formula. The trial was not without incident, as Piastri's McLaren briefly stalled as he led the field out.
What's next:
Teams have one final day of testing on Friday to analyze data, make setup tweaks, and conduct race simulations before the cars are locked away for the season opener. The clock is ticking for Aston Martin and Honda to diagnose and address their power unit gremlins. All eyes will be on whether Antonelli's headline time translates into genuine qualifying pace and if the established order from testing holds when the championship points are on the line next week.