Leclerc Tops Bahrain Test Session as Red Bull and Mercedes Hit Trouble
Charles Leclerc put Ferrari atop the timesheets in Bahrain testing, but the story was the severe lack of running for Red Bull and Mercedes due to technical failures, casting early doubt on their 2026 preparations.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in the morning session of Day 2 at the 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain, while reigning champions Red Bull and the Mercedes team were sidelined by significant technical issues. The session hinted at a potential shift in the competitive order, with McLaren's Lando Norris a distant second and midfield teams logging impressive mileage.
Why it matters:
Pre-season testing is the first real indicator of each team's winter progress, and significant reliability problems for the sport's recent top teams immediately raise questions about their 2026 preparations. Meanwhile, Ferrari and McLaren's trouble-free running and strong pace suggest they may have started the new regulatory era on a stronger footing.
The details:
- Leclerc leads the way: The Ferrari driver posted a 1:34.273, over half a second clear of Norris in the McLaren. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) and Oliver Bearman (Haas) completed the top four, albeit several seconds adrift.
- Championship contenders grounded: Both Red Bull and Mercedes had their programs severely compromised.
- Mercedes' PU problem: Kimi Antonelli managed only three installation laps before a power unit issue kept the W15 in the garage.
- Red Bull's hydraulic leak: As reported earlier, the RB22 suffered a hydraulic leak, confining Isack Hadjar to a single, late lap.
- Reliability elsewhere: The rest of the field enjoyed productive sessions, with Norris (64 laps), Leclerc (62), and Alex Albon (Williams, 62) completing the highest lap counts.
What's next:
The afternoon session will be critical for Red Bull and Mercedes to recover lost track time and begin understanding their new cars. All eyes will be on whether Ferrari and McLaren can maintain their early momentum and if the issues plaguing the front-runners are minor glitches or signs of deeper developmental troubles. The true pecking order remains obscured, but Day 2 has already delivered unexpected drama.