George Russell Tops Final Morning of Bahrain Pre-Season Testing
George Russell led a Mercedes 1-2 at the top of the timesheets on the final morning of pre-season testing in Bahrain, with a 1m33.918s. Lewis Hamilton was second for Ferrari, showing improved form, while a vocal Max Verstappen placed third for Red Bull. All teams completed running, offering initial clues for the 2026 season.
George Russell set the fastest time of the final morning session in Bahrain, dipping into the 1m33s bracket as Mercedes showed strong early pace. Lewis Hamilton, after a vocal Wednesday, placed second for Ferrari, with Max Verstappen third for Red Bull despite his recent criticisms of the new power unit regulations. All eleven teams completed meaningful running, providing the first comparative glimpse of the 2026 pecking order.
Why it matters:
Pre-season testing times are always treated with caution, but the final morning session often reveals the first genuine performance trends as teams transition to lower-fuel, softer-tire runs. Russell's pace at the top, coupled with Hamilton's immediate rebound, signals a potentially very competitive Mercedes package. Verstappen's strong time, set amid ongoing complaints about engine drivability, suggests Red Bull's underlying performance remains formidable.
The details:
- Mercedes on top: George Russell's benchmark of 1m33.918s put him nearly three-tenths clear of the field, a significant margin in testing.
- Hamilton's response: After a difficult day characterized by radio complaints about balance, Lewis Hamilton responded with the second-fastest time for Ferrari, indicating a positive setup direction.
- Verstappen's paradox: The reigning world champion was third fastest for Red Bull, a strong performance that stands in contrast to his pointed criticisms of the new power unit's performance and driveability earlier in the week.
- Promising debuts: Haas rookie Oliver Bearman and McLaren's Oscar Piastri rounded out the top five, showing promising early speed for their respective teams.
- Full participation: All teams logged laps, with no major reliability stoppages reported, marking a smooth final morning of track action.
What's next:
The focus now shifts to the final afternoon of running at the Bahrain International Circuit, where teams will likely conduct race simulations and qualifying-style runs to gather the last critical data before the cars are packed away. The true competitive picture will remain shrouded in fuel loads and engine modes, but the patterns established today will form the basis of every team's pre-race analysis ahead of the season opener.