McLaren Tops Bahrain Test Day 1, But Red Bull's Long Runs Impress
Lando Norris put McLaren atop the timesheets on the first day of F1 testing in Bahrain, but Max Verstappen's Red Bull showed stronger long-run pace. The day was marked by mixed reliability, with Audi and Mercedes facing minor issues and Aston Martin-Honda losing the entire afternoon session to a power unit problem.
McLaren's Lando Norris set the fastest single lap on the opening day of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain, but reigning champion Max Verstappen and Red Bull showcased formidable long-run pace that caught the paddock's eye. While several teams faced reliability setbacks, the day provided the first true glimpse of the 2026 grid's competitive order.
Why it matters:
The first day of testing often reveals more about reliability and race pace than outright speed, making Red Bull's consistent performance a significant early signal. With major regulation changes for 2026, establishing a baseline for the new cars is critical, and any team losing track time—like Aston Martin—faces a steep challenge to recover.
The details:
- McLaren's Single-Lap Pace: Lando Norris, taking over from teammate Oscar Piastri, set the day's benchmark of 1m34.669s on medium tires in the penultimate hour, edging out Max Verstappen by over a tenth.
- Red Bull's Race Simulation: Despite not topping the timesheets, Max Verstappen, who ran solo in the RB22, impressed observers with a series of consistent and impressive long runs. This aligns with Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff's recent claim that the new Red Bull-Ford power unit holds a substantial energy deployment advantage.
- Mixed Fortunes for Rivals: Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was third fastest, half a second off Norris. Haas' Esteban Ocon was an unexpected fourth, while Alpine and the new Audi entry also dipped below the 1m37s mark.
- Technical Glitches: The session was not without issues. Audi's dramatically redesigned car caused a red flag with an afternoon stoppage. Mercedes discovered a problem during the driver change, limiting rookie Kimi Antonelli to just the final hour. Aston Martin-Honda's day was most severely impacted, completing only 36 laps before a "data anomaly" with the power unit sidelined them for the entire afternoon session.
What's next:
All eyes will be on Aston Martin to see if they can resolve their power unit issue and make up for lost mileage on Day 2. Teams will begin to shift focus towards heavier fuel loads and race simulations, providing a clearer picture of the true competitive landscape. The performance gap between Red Bull's race pace and McLaren's qualifying speed will be a key storyline to follow as testing continues.