Mercedes sets early pace in Bahrain test as Cadillac hits more trouble

George Russell set the fastest time of the first 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain, signaling a strong recovery for Mercedes after a troubled second day. The team's pace contrasted sharply with another setback for Cadillac, which triggered the day's first red flag with a mechanical failure for Valtteri Bottas.

Why it matters:

Pre-season testing offers the first real glimpse of the competitive order, and Mercedes' ability to top the timesheets after an engine change demonstrates resilience and raw pace. Conversely, Cadillac's recurring reliability issues in these crucial early sessions raise immediate concerns about their preparation for the season ahead, putting pressure on the new team to find solutions quickly.

The details:

• George Russell set the benchmark with a 1m33.918s, becoming the first driver to lap below the 1m34s mark during the third morning of testing.
• His run came after Mercedes completed a full engine change on day two, which limited junior driver Kimi Antonelli to just three laps and left the team with the second-lowest lap count heading into the final day.
• Lewis Hamilton, now with Ferrari, slotted into second, 0.291 seconds behind his former teammate, setting his personal best time of the test.
• Max Verstappen was third fastest for Red Bull, 1.423s off the pace, followed by Haas's Ollie Bearman in fourth.
• The session was interrupted by a red flag when Valtteri Bottas's Cadillac suffered an apparent mechanical failure at Turn 11. Bottas was seen inspecting the rear of the car before it was craned away, marking more trouble for the team after a similar stoppage on Thursday.
• Other drivers registering their fastest laps of the week included Carlos Sainz (Williams), Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), and Alpine's Franco Colapinto. Sainz also completed a day-high 22 laps early in the running.

What's next:

The focus for the final hours of the test will be on consistent long-run performance and reliability checks. Mercedes will aim to build on its promising one-lap pace with trouble-free mileage, while Cadillac faces a race against time to diagnose and resolve its technical gremlins before the season opener. For all teams, the data gathered here will be critical for finalizing their packages for the first race.