Bahrain F1 2026 Pre-Season Testing: Day 3 Morning Session Results
George Russell topped the timesheets for Mercedes on the final morning of 2026 pre-season testing in Bahrain, setting the fastest lap of the entire test week. Lewis Hamilton was second for Ferrari, while Max Verstappen finished third for Red Bull, over 1.4 seconds off the pace. The session provided early hints at the competitive order under the new regulations.
George Russell set the fastest time of the entire 2026 pre-season test so far in the morning session in Bahrain, edging out former teammate Lewis Hamilton. The Mercedes driver's benchmark lap of 1:33.918 put him nearly three-tenths clear of the Ferrari, with Max Verstappen a distant third for Red Bull Racing.
Why it matters:
Pre-season testing lap times are always treated with caution, but the pecking order and relative performance gaps provide the first tangible clues about the new technical regulations. Russell's pace in the Mercedes W17, coupled with a significant gap to the reigning champion's Red Bull, will fuel early speculation about a potential shift in the competitive hierarchy for the 2026 season.
The details:
- Top of the Timesheets: George Russell's 1:33.918 on the C4 compound tyre stood as the week's fastest time after completing 78 laps.
- The Chase Pack: Lewis Hamilton was second, 0.291 seconds behind in the Ferrari. Max Verstappen was third, but his best time was 1.423 seconds adrift of Russell's benchmark.
- Reliability and Running: The session saw high mileage, with Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) completing the most laps at 84. The only red flag was caused by Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac), who managed only 37 laps.
- Session Standings: Oliver Bearman (Haas) and Oscar Piastri (McLaren) rounded out the top five, followed by Franco Colapinto (Alpine), Carlos Sainz (Williams), Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), and Bottas.
The big picture:
This session continues the narrative of a potentially much closer field under the 2026 regulations, with Mercedes and Ferrari showing strong early form. The significant gap from the top two to Verstappen's Red Bull is particularly notable, though test programs vary wildly. The high lap counts for most teams, excluding Bottas's stoppage, suggest initial reliability is promising for the complex new power units and chassis.
What's next:
The afternoon session will see rookie Kimi Antonelli take over the Mercedes from Russell, offering a first direct comparison to the established frontrunner. Teams will continue their programs, shifting focus to long-run performance and race simulations, which provide a more accurate picture of true competitive order than single-lap pace. All eyes will remain on whether Red Bull can close the apparent gap and if Mercedes' speed is genuine.
Bahrain Test - Day 3 Morning Session Times:
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:33.918, 78 laps
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +0.291s, 69 laps
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +1.423s, 61 laps
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) – +2.054s, 70 laps
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +2.472s, 73 laps
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – +2.956s, 64 laps
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +3.268s, 68 laps
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – +3.320s, 84 laps
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) – +3.618s, 60 laps
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – +4.505s, 54 laps
- Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) – +4.854s, 37 laps