F1 Teams Reveal Driver Lineups for Crucial Bahrain Pre-Season Test
Haas and Red Bull are the first to confirm their driver schedules for the crucial three-day pre-season test in Bahrain, the final on-track session before the 2026 F1 season. The lineups reveal team priorities for development and evaluation, with several top teams yet to announce their plans. The test follows a secretive Barcelona shakedown where Williams missed all running, putting immense pressure on their Bahrain program.
Haas has become the first team to officially confirm its driver schedule for the upcoming three-day pre-season test in Bahrain, with Red Bull Racing also detailing its run plan as the grid finalizes preparations for the 2026 season. The test, running from February 11th to 13th, is the final major on-track opportunity for teams to develop their radically new cars before the season begins.
Why it matters:
Pre-season testing is a critical, and often deceptive, indicator of a team's true competitive level. While lap times are closely guarded secrets, the driver running schedules reveal team priorities—such as who gets the most track time for development and who is being evaluated for a future seat. For teams like Williams, who missed the first test entirely, these three days in Bahrain are their first real chance to run the new car and are therefore under immense pressure to catch up.
The details:
The test days are split into morning and afternoon sessions, with teams deciding how to allocate time between their drivers.
- Haas F1 Team will field Esteban Ocon on Wednesday, Oliver Bearman on Thursday, and split Friday between the two.
- Red Bull Racing has World Champion Max Verstappen driving Wednesday and Friday, with Isack Hadjar taking the wheel on Thursday and sharing duties on Friday.
- Williams, playing catch-up, will split each day between Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon in a rotating schedule.
- Aston Martin plans to run Lance Stroll on Wednesday and Friday, with Fernando Alonso driving on Thursday.
- Audi will alternate between Nico Hulkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto across all three days.
- Several top teams, including Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren, have yet to announce their detailed run plans (TBA).
The big picture:
This Bahrain test follows a closed-door, low-key shakedown in Barcelona last month, which was focused purely on reliability and data gathering. Most teams completed solid mileage, but Williams' absence and McLaren's delayed start highlighted the development race's uneven nature. The atmosphere in Bahrain will be more intense, with teams beginning to show their hands on performance as the clock ticks down to the first race. The driver lineups, especially for teams with a rookie or a driver under evaluation, offer clues about long-term planning beyond the immediate test program.
What's next:
The three-day test in Bahrain is the final dress rehearsal. Teams will analyze the data to make last-minute upgrades and finalize their setups for the season opener. Performance trends will start to become clearer, though sandbagging—hiding true pace—remains a common tactic. All eyes will be on Williams to see if they can recover lost ground and on the rookie drivers to gauge how quickly they adapt to the new-generation cars.