Lead: On Day 1 of the second 2026 pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit, Formula 1’s 11 teams returned for the first of three remaining test days before the season opener in Melbourne. Teams combined reliability work with selective performance runs; some squads encountered technical interruptions while others logged long, trouble-free stints. Notable developments included Ferrari trialling new aero behind the exhaust, Mercedes topping the timesheets, and Cadillac suffering a sensor and telemetry-hit day that restricted it to 59 laps. Early signals are informative but not definitive ahead of the final two days of running.
Key takeaways
- Eleven F1 teams resumed testing at Bahrain on Day 1 of the second test, with three days still scheduled before the Australian season opener.
- Ferrari introduced a small rear wing element positioned behind the exhaust as part of its development run toward a ‘race one’ specification.
- Mercedes-looking strong on pace: George Russell led the timesheets and Kimi Antonelli completed 69 laps, nine fewer than his teammate (78 laps).
- McLaren completed 124 laps between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri while exploring short and long runs and multiple power-unit modes.
- Haas continued a consistent pre-season run while bringing several new parts; team leadership reported clear directions for further improvements.
- Cadillac’s running was limited to 59 laps after Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas lost time to a sensor fault and telemetry issues.
- Lewis Hamilton lost about 90 minutes in the afternoon for repairs but returned for the final hour before an FIA start-procedure test.
Background
Formula 1’s pre-season testing program is designed to let teams balance reliability checks with performance evaluation under controlled conditions. Teams typically enter the second Bahrain test with data from previous shakedowns and the first test session, using the final days to verify upgrades and to converge toward a race setup. The 2026 season’s new on-track packages and incremental updates are being phased in, which makes these late tests critical for confirming direction rather than proving race pace outright.
Manufacturers and independent teams face different priorities: factory teams tend to iterate aggressively on aero and suspension before committing to a “race one” specification, while smaller squads prioritise baseline reliability and energy management. Tyre evaluation, hybrid power‑unit modes and telemetry validation are recurring test objectives; any substantial time lost in a day reduces the confidence teams can carry into the next test and the season opener.
Main event
Ferrari ran a focused programme that included a compact wing element mounted behind the exhaust, aimed at generating additional downforce and improving stability. Team engineers are expected to bring several further updates across the Bahrain test as they finalise the specification intended for Australia. The parts work signals Ferrari’s intention to close the development gap as pre-season progresses.
Mercedes produced an encouraging set of runs, with George Russell posting the day’s best time on the timing sheets and team test driver Kimi Antonelli delivering a steady 69-lap stint. Mercedes deployed fresh components on the W17 and carried out setup adjustments; trackside engineering reported the changes have behaved broadly as intended, with tyre degradation kept under control during the programmes.
Reigning champions McLaren split duties between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, completing 124 laps in total while sampling multiple power-unit maps and a mixture of short and long stints. The drivers reported increased familiarity with the chassis as the day progressed, and the team described the mileage as useful for continued development rather than a full performance benchmark.
Haas continued to impress with reliable running and quick turnaround when minor issues surfaced. Team principal Ayao Komatsu said Day 1 produced useful learning and that the package is evolving in a clear direction. Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman both reported improving balance as engineers introduced new parts to the car.
Cadillac’s morning was disrupted by a sensor fault that cost Sergio Perez significant time while the team remedied wiring and telemetry instabilities. When Valtteri Bottas took over in the afternoon he added 35 laps but the day total reached only 59 laps, leaving the American squad aiming to recover lost running in the remaining two days.
Analysis & implications
The introduction of a small wing behind Ferrari’s exhaust points to a measured aero development strategy: incremental pieces that modify wake and stability without committing to wholesale chassis changes. If Ferrari can validate that element across the next two days, it reduces uncertainty about their race‑spec trajectory for Melbourne. However, wind‑tunnel correlation and long‑run degradation still need confirmation before one can read too much into a single day.
Mercedes’ strong showing — in both pace indicators and controlled degradation — reinforces the view that the W17 is a competitive platform when running reliably. Yet test pace is programme‑dependent: rivals run varied fuel loads, tyre allocations and component tests, so raw timesheets are a noisy signal. The more important metric for Mercedes is the ability to complete planned programmes without snags, which they largely achieved on Day 1.
McLaren’s 124 laps and purposeful exploration of power‑unit modes indicate a team refining race‑trim and energy management rather than seeking headline times. That approach is consistent with a defending champion focused on ensuring system robustness across different race scenarios. Midfield teams such as Haas continue to close the gap by preserving clean running and extracting usable data from each modification.
Cadillac’s interruptions underscore how sensors and telemetry reliability remain decisive in modern F1 testing. Lost laps mean fewer long runs for tyre and PU mapping, which can delay setup decisions that affect early-season performance. The next 48 hours will be important for them to demonstrate recovery capability and to avoid carrying unresolved issues to Melbourne.
| Item | Reported laps / note |
|---|---|
| George Russell (Mercedes) | 78 laps (team top pace) |
| Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) | 69 laps |
| McLaren (Norris + Piastri) | 124 laps combined |
| Cadillac (Perez + Bottas) | 59 laps combined |
The table above highlights the headline lap figures published after Day 1. Lap totals are a proxy for programme completion rather than a direct performance ranking: short runs, tyre choices and fuel levels differ by team. Teams that completed more laps generally collected more long‑run degradation and reliability data, which becomes valuable when calibrating race simulations.
Reactions & quotes
Team engineers and leaders framed the day as productive but preliminary, emphasising reliability before outright speed. The quotes below capture the tone from paddock sources and engineering leads on site.
“They seem to be doing what we hoped”
Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes trackside chief (team official)
Shovlin’s comment followed Mercedes’ run of setup changes and new parts on the W17; engineers said degradation was manageable and the car stayed in a workable window during the programme.
“We’re still learning with each lap, but that’s a good sign that we’re making solid progress”
Mark Temple, McLaren performance chief (team official)
Temple’s remark framed McLaren’s mileage as constructive development work rather than an outright pace statement, underlining the team’s methodical approach to validating different power‑unit modes.
“We learned quite a lot and we have a pretty clear direction in terms of what we need to do to improve the car”
Ayao Komatsu, Haas team principal (team official)
Komatsu summarised Haas’s day, which combined the introduction of parts with positive driver feedback that suggested incremental improvements to balance and handling.
Unconfirmed
- Relative race pace hierarchy after Day 1 is still tentative; timesheets reflect differing fuel and tyre strategies rather than final performance order.
- Whether Ferrari’s new exhaust‑area wing will form part of the final ‘race one’ specification for Australia remains unconfirmed until further validation runs.
- Cadillac’s timetable for full telemetry and sensor recovery is not yet confirmed; the team’s ability to finish its programme in the next two days is still pending.
Bottom line
Day 1 in Bahrain delivered useful, if preliminary, information: several teams advanced development with targeted upgrades and productive long runs, while a handful lost valuable time to technical issues. Mercedes and McLaren emerged with reassuring running and mileage; Ferrari’s aero trial signals they are actively developing toward their race specification; Haas continues to show steady midfield form; Cadillac must recover lost laps to validate setups.
These results should be read as directional rather than decisive. The next two days of testing will be crucial to confirm correlations, validate upgrades and finish programmes; only then will teams arrive in Melbourne with a clearer picture of the pecking order and the reliability baselines needed to fight effectively on race day.
Sources
- Formula1.com (media coverage of the Bahrain test)