Verstappen Tops Opening Morning of 2026 F1 Pre-Season Testing in Bahrain

Max Verstappen set the fastest time in the opening morning session of Formula 1's 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain, leading a largely smooth first run for the new cars. The four-time world champion's lap of 1:35.433 put him just under two-tenths clear of McLaren's Oscar Piastri, as all eleven teams completed their first official track running ahead of the new season.

Why it matters:

This session marks the first concrete, competitive data point for the new 2026 technical era. While lap times in testing are notoriously unrepresentative of true race pace, the running provides crucial initial feedback on car reliability, drivability, and the early pecking order. It's the first real-world check on the winter's development work and sets the narrative for the crucial days of data gathering ahead.

The Details:

• Verstappen on Top: Driving for the newly-titled Red Bull Powertrains team, Verstappen's benchmark time came on the C3 compound tire, the middle of Pirelli's 2026 test range.
• McLaren Close Behind: Oscar Piastri's P2 time for McLaren, just 0.194 seconds adrift, signals a potentially strong start for the Woking-based squad as they look to build on their 2025 championship challenge.
• Smooth Running, One Halt: The four-hour session was largely uninterrupted, with the sole red flag caused by Williams driver Franco Colapinto stopping on track between Turns 7 and 8 due to a suspected technical issue.
• First Official Laps: The session represented the first official track action for the Williams team under its new ownership structure, completing a significant milestone in their ambitious rebuild project.
• Program Focus: Teams focused on baseline checks, systems reliability, and initial aerodynamic data collection, with most running higher fuel loads, making the headline lap times a secondary concern.

What's Next:

The afternoon session will see teams continue their programs, likely beginning to explore performance windows and different tire compounds. The real story of testing will unfold over the next five days across both three-day tests, as teams move from system checks to race simulations and lower-fuel qualifying runs. The reliability and consistent pace shown by Red Bull and McLaren will be watched closely, but the true competitive picture will remain deliberately obscured until qualifying in Bahrain two weeks from now.