Cadillac F1 team principal Graeme Lowdon says positive initial testing hasn't raised his expectations for the season opener in Australia, stressing a realistic and grounded approach for the American outfit's debut campaign.
Max Verstappen's distinctive and aggressive downshifting technique during Bahrain testing, using first gear in unusual corners, is a visible sign of Red Bull's early development work for the 2026 power units. The method aims to maximize energy recovery under braking, hinting at a core design philosophy for the new regulations.
McLaren's Lando Norris set the fastest time on Day 1 of 2026 F1 testing in Bahrain, just ahead of Max Verstappen's Red Bull. The session revealed early technical issues for several teams and provided the first look at new car designs under the latest regulations, with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc completing the top three.
McLaren's Lando Norris set the fastest lap on Day 1 of F1 testing in Bahrain, but Red Bull's Max Verstappen impressed rivals with consistent long-run pace and formidable energy deployment, signaling the team may have maintained its advantage despite building its first in-house engine for the 2026 regulations.
Lewis Hamilton concedes that having a temporary race engineer for the start of the 2026 F1 season will hurt his campaign, as Ferrari finalizes a permanent replacement for the departed Riccardo Adami. The late shuffle disrupts crucial stability ahead of major rule changes.
GPS data from Bahrain testing supports Toto Wolff's claim that Red Bull's power unit holds a straight-line speed advantage over Mercedes, linked to more effective energy deployment. This technical edge could be a significant factor as teams finalize their preparations for the 2025 season opener.
Mercedes' Toto Wolff states a proposed F1 engine rule change targeting a technical interpretation his team developed would be "quite damaging" to performance. The dispute, involving all power unit manufacturers, centers on a potential loophole and could reshape the competitive landscape before the 2026 season begins.
F1's 2026 pre-season testing in Bahrain will have restricted live TV coverage for the second test, with only the final hour shown daily. The following third test will be broadcast in full, giving fans their first complete look at the new cars. Sky Sports will air the sessions in the UK.
Lando Norris led a tight opening day of F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain, beating Max Verstappen by 0.129 seconds. While McLaren and Red Bull showed early pace, reliability issues hampered Aston Martin and Racing Bulls, highlighting the initial development challenges for the 2026 season.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff stated that Red Bull, with its new in-house power unit and Max Verstappen, is currently the performance benchmark in F1. He highlighted their superior energy deployment as a key advantage that Mercedes cannot yet match, setting a challenging tone for the season ahead.
Lewis Hamilton has labeled the upcoming mid-race engineer change at Ferrari as
The first morning of F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain saw Lewis Hamilton spin and several drivers run off-track, underscoring the initial challenge of finding grip with the new cars. These early incidents, while common in testing, provide the first tangible data points on car behavior and team preparedness just days before the season opener at the same circuit.
