Kimi Antonelli put Mercedes atop the timesheets on Day 2 of the final 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain, but the day was marked by a red flag caused by Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin due to a Honda power unit failure. The session highlighted both competitive promise and lingering reliability concerns with the new cars just days before the season begins.
Kimi Antonelli topped the timesheets for Mercedes on the second day of F1's final pre-season test in Bahrain, breaking into the 1m32s alongside McLaren's Oscar Piastri. The day was marred for Aston Martin, however, as a power unit issue sidelined Fernando Alonso early, severely limiting the team's running and casting a shadow over their preparation for the new season.
Reigning F1 champion Lando Norris admits McLaren is not starting 2026 with the same dominant race pace that secured its 2025 titles. He cites the new regulations as a grid reset and says the team must improve in many areas to compete at the front, tempering expectations for an immediate repeat of last year's success.
Liam Lawson reveals the emotional turmoil of replacing Daniel Ricciardo at Racing Bulls, describing the sudden call-up for his 2023 debut and the immense guilt of taking a friend's seat. He details how Ricciardo, despite losing his drive, immediately offered unwavering support and has since become a trusted advisor, showcasing a rarely seen human side of F1's driver market.
Ferrari has stunned the F1 paddock in Bahrain by testing a radical new rear wing design on its SF-26. The DRS flap rotates a full 180 degrees, creating a unique aerodynamic profile, and represents one of the most extreme interpretations of the new regulations seen so far.
Toto Wolff has angrily dismissed speculation that Mercedes' F1 power unit is illegal amid a controversy over engine compression ratio tests. He calls the claims "utter bulls**t" and criticizes rivals for ganging up to force a potential mid-season rule change through an FIA vote.
Ferrari has stunned the F1 paddock by testing a rear wing that flips its upper element completely upside down on straights. This radical interpretation of the active aero rules aims to slash drag and boost top speed, potentially offering a key advantage in the efficiency-focused 2026 season. The design is part of a broader aerodynamic package as the team explores aggressive new concepts.
Aston Martin's pre-season struggles worsened as Fernando Alonso stopped on track with an engine issue during testing in Bahrain. The stoppage, which caused a red flag, compounds the team's significant lack of mileage after also missing early testing and follows a spin for teammate Lance Stroll a day earlier.
Lando Norris admits his early praise for the challenging 2026 F1 cars was partly to provoke reaction, revealing he actually agrees with the dominant critical view shared by Max Verstappen and others. While he still finds driving fun, Norris concedes the new cars are a step backwards in enjoyment and require fixes, confirming that F1 and the FIA are working on improvements.
Lando Norris set the fastest time in Bahrain testing for McLaren, but Ferrari stole the technical spotlight as Lewis Hamilton briefly debuted a radical new active rear wing that flips upside down on straights. Hamilton's running was cut short to just five laps, while Norris led Max Verstappen and George Russell on the timesheets.
Lando Norris set the fastest lap of pre-season testing for McLaren, narrowly beating Max Verstappen's Red Bull in the final Bahrain test. Ferrari's radical new car was largely absent, while George Russell logged high mileage and strong long-run pace for Mercedes, offering clues to the 2026 pecking order with the season opener just days away.
The FIA is testing a longer pre-start sequence in Bahrain to accommodate the unique demands of F1's 2026 engines, which require extended turbo spooling. The five-second extension has received early positive reviews from teams, with a final decision pending further trials and feedback.
