Norris Tops Opening Day of 2026 Bahrain Pre-Season Test

Lando Norris set the fastest time for McLaren on the first day of official 2026 pre-season testing in Bahrain, while reigning champion Max Verstappen logged the most laps for Red Bull. The session offered the first glimpse of the new grid under revised regulations, with mixed running orders and two red flag interruptions.

Why it matters:

Pre-season testing times are notoriously unreliable indicators of true pace, but the opening day provides critical initial data on reliability, driver pairings, and how teams have adapted to the latest technical rules. The high lap counts and mixed order hint at varied run programs, setting the narrative for the final countdown to the new season.

The Details:

• Top of the Timesheet: McLaren's Lando Norris set the benchmark with a 1:34.669 during the afternoon session, completing 50 laps.
• The Mileage King: Max Verstappen, just over a tenth behind Norris, focused on reliability by racking up a massive 129 laps in the Red Bull RB22.
• Ferrari in the Mix: Charles Leclerc slotted into third for Ferrari, half a second off the pace, while new teammate Lewis Hamilton finished seventh after his first official outing with the team.
• Session Disruptions: The day saw two red flags; one for Alpine's Franco Colapinto in the morning and another for Nico Hülkenberg's Audi in the afternoon. Both cars returned to action.
• Team Splits: Several teams, including McLaren and Mercedes, split driving duties between their drivers, with Oscar Piastri (P4) and Kimi Antonelli (P11) taking the morning stints.

What’s next:

With five more days of testing scheduled in Bahrain, teams will shift focus from initial shakedowns to longer runs and performance simulations. The true competitive picture will remain deliberately fuzzy, but trends in reliability and consistent pace will begin to emerge as teams finalize their packages for the opening race.