Verstappen tops Day 1 of Bahrain testing as Audi reveals radical sidepods
Max Verstappen and Red Bull began 2026 pre-season testing in Bahrain as the fastest combination, but Audi stole visual headlines with an extreme sidepod design on its new car. McLaren's Oscar Piastri was close behind, while the first day provided initial mileage and data for all teams ahead of the new season.
Max Verstappen set the fastest time on the opening day of Formula 1's 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain, edging out McLaren's Oscar Piastri by 0.169 seconds. The session provided the first public glimpse of all 11 new cars, with Audi's challenger generating immediate buzz due to its extreme, minimalist sidepod design.
Why it matters:
Pre-season testing offers the first true, albeit incomplete, picture of the competitive order. While lap times are heavily influenced by fuel loads and run plans, Verstappen's early pace reaffirms Red Bull's status as the team to beat. More tellingly, Audi's aggressive aerodynamic concept signals the new manufacturer's intent to make a significant technical impact from its debut season, challenging established design philosophies.
The details:
- Verstappen's benchmark time of 1:35.433 came in the morning session, with Piastri his closest challenger. George Russell (Mercedes) and Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) completed the top four.
- Audi's radical reveal: The team formerly known as Sauber turned heads by running an R26 chassis with dramatically shrunken sidepods, a bold aerodynamic choice that diverges from most competitors.
- Reliability mixed with incidents: The day ran mostly smoothly, with teams focusing on data gathering with aerodynamic rakes and systems checks. However, Alpine's Franco Colapinto caused a red flag when his car stopped on track with an undisclosed issue.
- Driver adaptation: Drivers spent time acclimating to the new cars' energy management requirements and the latest iterations of movable front and rear wings.
- Lap count focus: Williams' Carlos Sainz and Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad were among the busiest, completing 77 and 75 laps respectively, prioritizing mileage over outright lap time.
By the numbers:
- 6.085 seconds – The gap between Verstappen's Day 1 time and the fastest lap from the 2025 Bahrain test, set by Carlos Sainz, highlighting the expected performance reset with new technical regulations.
- 1:35.602 – Oscar Piastri's time, putting McLaren within striking distance of Red Bull on the initial day.
- 75 laps – The highest individual tally, set by rookie Arvid Lindblad for Racing Bulls, indicating a solid start for the team's reliability.
What's next:
Testing continues for two more days in Bahrain, with teams expected to begin higher-fuel race simulations and performance runs. All eyes will be on whether Audi's radical design proves to be a flash in the pan or a genuine innovation, and if any team can consistently challenge Red Bull's early pace. The true pecking order will remain obscured until qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix next week.