Day 1 of test 2 at 2026 Bahrain F1 testing is in the books, view the full report and results here.
Aside from Isack Hadjar who got a full day in the RB22, every other team gave their two drivers half a day each.
AM session
With Ferrari bringing updates to the second test, Charles Leclerc led the way in the morning. He did a 1:33.739, a shade slower than Antonelli’s benchmark from the first test last week. Norris and the Italian were within half a second.
Meanwhile in the unreliability club: Pérez had mechanical issues for Cadillac, while Hadjar and Alonso got stuck in the garage thanks to different engine worries.
PM session
In the second session, Oscar Piastri went to the top of the charts initially. A 1:33.469 from the Australian driver meant he became the driver with the fastest time from both Bahrain tests so far. However, inside the final 35 minutes, George Russell clocked a 1:33.459 to displace the McLaren driver by 0.010s.
Isack Hadjar also showed some speed in the Red Bull as he clocked a 1:34.260 as the top four teams displayed a clear advantage over the rest of the field.
Russell was purple in S1, with Piastri and Antonelli holding purples in Sectors 2 and 3.
More problems for Aston Martin in 2026 F1 Bahrain testing
As Lance Stroll headed into turn 11 in his Aston Martin, the Canadian had a bizarre spin and ended up beached in the gravel. He would return to the track and complete more laps later in the evening.
Lewis Hamilton was also restricted in his running as Ferrari confirmed a “small issue” with the car of the seven-time World Champion.
FIA statement on a start test due to safety concerns
As part of the end-of-day procedures during the second week of pre-season testing in Bahrain, the FIA will evaluate a new race start lights sequence.
At approximately 18:50 a red flag will be shown and all cars will return to the pit lane. The cars will then complete a formation lap, followed by an additional formation lap, before lining up on the grid for a simulated race start.
Once all cars are in position, a new Pre-Start Warning will begin: all grid panels will flash blue for 5 seconds. After the blue warning ends, the usual start sequence will begin.
In total, the sequence will consist of:
- Red flag
- Cars back in pit lane and line up in the fast lane
- Pit exit open – cars leave pit lane to go back on the grid
- Extra formation lap
- Cars back in position on the grid
- 5-second blue pre-start warning
- Standard start light procedure
2026 Bahrain F1 Testing | Day 1, Test 2 results
- Russell 1:33.459 (76 laps)
- Piastri 1:33.469 (70)
- Leclerc 1:33.739 (70)
- Norris 1:34.052 (54)
- Antonelli 1:34.158 (68)
- Hadjar 1:34.260 (66)
- Hamilton 1:34.299 (44)
- Sainz 1:35.113 (55)
- Colapinto 1:35.254 (60)
- Bortoleto 1:35.263 (71)
- Albon 1:35.690 (55)
- Lawson 1:35.753 (61)
- Bearman 1:35.778 (42)
- Gasly 1:35.898 (61)
- Stroll 1:36.338 (26)
- Ocon 1:36.418 (65)
- Alonso 1:36.536 (28)
- Hülkenberg 1:36.741 (49)
- Lindblad 1:36.769 (75)
- Bottas 1:36.798 (35)
- Pérez 1:38.191 (24)
