Antonelli Tops Timesheets as Hamilton's Final Test Day Marred by Issues

Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time on the final day of pre-season testing in Bahrain, continuing Mercedes' strong showing, while Lewis Hamilton endured a disrupted session with technical problems and errors. Ferrari also faced setbacks, losing valuable track time as teams completed their preparations for the 2026 Formula 1 season opener in Australia.

Why it matters:

Pre-season testing times are not always definitive, but the pecking order and reliability trends set a crucial tone for the opening races. Mercedes' consistent pace at the top of the timesheets, contrasted with Ferrari's operational hiccups and Hamilton's troubled day, provides early narratives about team preparedness and potential vulnerabilities heading into the new campaign.

The details:

• Mercedes on form: Antonelli's benchmark lap of 1:32.803 was 0.058s faster than McLaren's Oscar Piastri, with reigning champion Max Verstappen a further three-tenths back in third. Teammate George Russell had topped the times on the previous day.
• Hamilton's struggles: The seven-time champion's running was limited by a technical issue in the morning. In the evening, while attempting qualifying simulations, he made repeated mistakes and finished the day sixth-tenths off the pace in fourth.
• Ferrari's mixed bag: The team lost comparative mileage to its rivals. A test of an Active Aero rear wing saw it flip 180 degrees on the straight, though this was a trial item. Hamilton did show strong pace in practice start procedures trialed by the FIA.
• Aston Martin's woes: Fernando Alonso's day ended early when a power unit issue caused him to stop on track, capping a difficult start to testing for the team.
• Reliability elsewhere: Mercedes, McLaren, and Red Bull completed their programs with 156, 164, and 139 laps respectively without major drama.

What's next:

The talking points and data from Bahrain will now be analyzed intensely as teams head to Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix on March 6-8. The true competitive order will begin to crystallize under the pressure of qualifying and race conditions, revealing whether testing form translates into genuine performance.