F1 Teams Finalize Driver Lineups for Second Bahrain Pre-Season Test
Formula 1 teams are finalizing their driver schedules for the second and final pre-season test in Bahrain from February 18-20. With only Racing Bulls, Aston Martin, and Alpine confirming their lineups so far, the three-day session represents the last chance for teams to prepare their cars before the 2026 season begins in Australia on March 8.
The final pre-season test before the 2026 Formula 1 campaign gets underway is set to begin in Bahrain, with teams confirming their driver schedules for the crucial three-day session. The test, running from February 18-20, will see each team field one car per day as they complete their final preparations ahead of the season opener in Australia on March 8.
Why it matters:
Pre-season testing is the last opportunity for teams to gather critical data, validate car performance, and allow drivers to build confidence with their new machinery before the competitive pressure of a race weekend. The driver splits chosen by each team reveal their priorities, whether it's giving race drivers maximum track time or evaluating young talent for future roles.
The details:
The test schedule follows the same format as the first Bahrain test, with track running split into two daily sessions: from 10:00 to 14:00 and 15:00 to 19:00 local time (GMT+3). As of now, only a few teams have publicly confirmed their detailed run plans, with many expected to announce their lineups imminently.
- Racing Bulls will split duties between reserve driver Liam Lawson and junior driver Arvid Lindblad across the three days. Lawson will drive on Wednesday afternoon and all day Thursday, while Lindblad takes the Wednesday morning and Friday sessions.
- Aston Martin will give both race drivers a full day in the car, with Lance Stroll driving Wednesday morning and all day Friday, and Fernando Alonso taking over for Wednesday afternoon and the entire Thursday.
- Alpine will utilize Pierre Gasly and rookie Franco Colapinto. Gasly will drive Wednesday afternoon and all day Friday, with Colapinto handling Wednesday morning and Thursday.
- The lineups for the remaining teams—including McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari, Williams, Haas, Audi, and Cadillac—are still to be confirmed and will be updated as announcements are made.
What's next:
Following the conclusion of this second Bahrain test on February 20, the entire F1 paddock will pack up and travel to Melbourne for the first race of the 2026 season at the Australian Grand Prix on March 8. The data and insights gathered over these final three days of running will be instrumental in forming each team's baseline setup and strategy for the opening round.