Max Verstappen has harshly criticized the 2026 Formula 1 cars after testing, calling them "not fun" and comparing the driving experience to "Formula E on steroids." He lamented the extreme focus on energy management over pure performance and suggested his enjoyment will be a key factor in deciding his F1 future beyond 2028.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc set the pace on the second day of F1's 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain. While McLaren's Lando Norris completed the most laps, the day was defined by technical troubles for Mercedes and Red Bull, alongside multiple red flag incidents.
Charles Leclerc set the fastest time for Ferrari on Day 2 of F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain, but the session was defined by McLaren's high mileage and multiple red flags that disrupted running for Alpine, Cadillac, and others.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc set the pace on a stop-start second day of 2026 F1 testing in Bahrain, which featured five red flags. Reliability issues hampered Mercedes, Red Bull, and Alpine, while Aston Martin admitted to a severe performance deficit. The disruptions highlighted the early challenges teams face with the new technical regulations.
Charles Leclerc topped the times for Ferrari on Day 2 of F1 testing in Bahrain, with McLaren's Lando Norris close behind. While both teams enjoyed flawless running, Mercedes and Red Bull lost crucial track time to technical issues, highlighting early reliability concerns ahead of the 2026 season.
Charles Leclerc posted the fastest combined time of the Bahrain pre‑season test (1:34.273), staying ahead of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. McLaren logged the most mileage on Day 2, while Mercedes struggled after early technical issues. The results set the early hierarchy ahead of the season opener.
Lance Stroll revealed Aston Martin is a worrying four seconds off the pace after a disrupted pre-season test, hampered by a Honda engine issue and limited running, casting doubt on its 2026 ambitions despite major investment and Adrian Newey's leadership.
Mercedes and Red Bull faced major setbacks on the second day of pre-season testing in Bahrain. Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli completed only three laps before a power unit failure, while Red Bull lost its morning to a hydraulic leak, costing Isack Hadjar valuable track time and highlighting early reliability concerns for both teams.
Carlos Sainz says missing Williams' Barcelona shakedown was frustrating but hasn't shaken his belief in the team, viewing recent delays as part of the challenge in helping the Grove outfit close the gap to F1's top teams.
Charles Leclerc set the fastest lap of pre-season testing so far on Day Two in Bahrain, with Lando Norris keeping McLaren close in second. Red Bull recovered from a troubled first day, while a tight midfield battle saw Oliver Bearman narrowly beat George Russell for third.
Lance Stroll says Aston Martin's new Adrian Newey-designed 2026 F1 car is drastically off the pace, estimating a deficit of up to four and a half seconds after troubled testing sessions in Bahrain and Barcelona.
Helmut Marko states Red Bull's new in-house power unit is crucial to keeping Max Verstappen satisfied with the team, as Toto Wolff surprisingly calls the Red Bull-Ford engine the current "benchmark" for energy deployment, flipping the pre-season narrative on its head.
