McLaren's Norris Edges Verstappen as F1 2026 Bahrain Test Unveils Early Form and Reliability Insights

Formula 1 officially returned to the track in Bahrain on Wednesday, February 11, marking the commencement of its crucial three-day pre-season test for the 2026 season. The Sakhir International Circuit played host to all ten teams, each eager to gather vital data and assess their new machinery ahead of the upcoming championship campaign. As the sun set on the opening day, a blend of outright pace and crucial mileage statistics began to paint an initial, albeit incomplete, picture of the competitive landscape and technical readiness.

The headline performance of the day came from Lando Norris, who piloted his McLaren to the fastest lap time, a 1m34.669s. This benchmark was set on the C2 compound tyre, a harder specification than typically used for ultimate performance runs, suggesting potential for even greater speed. Hot on his heels was reigning world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull, who posted a 1m34.798s, just 0.129 seconds adrift. Verstappen’s impressive time was achieved on the softer C3 compound, but significantly, the Dutchman also completed an extensive 136 laps, underscoring Red Bull’s focus on reliability and long-run data collection. This robust lap count from Verstappen highlights a strong start for the Red Bull-Ford powertrain, which enters its first season as a fully integrated unit for the senior team.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured the third-fastest time, recording a 1m35.190s on C3 tyres, completing 80 laps. His teammate, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, making his highly anticipated debut in Ferrari colours for the 2026 season, settled for seventh with a 1m36.433s from 52 laps, also on C3s. Hamilton’s move to the Italian Scuderia represents one of the most significant driver transfers in recent F1 history, and his initial running will be closely scrutinised for insights into Ferrari’s new challenger. The separation between the two Ferrari drivers, with Leclerc appearing more comfortable or focused on outright pace, provides an early point of comparison for the team’s development trajectory.

Further down the timing sheets, Esteban Ocon delivered a strong performance for Haas, placing fourth with a 1m35.578s from an impressive 115 laps on C3 tyres. This mileage for Haas, typically a team that has faced resource challenges, indicates a potentially more robust package for the season ahead and a commitment to extensive data gathering. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri mirrored his teammate’s strong showing, securing fifth position with a 1m35.602s from 54 laps, also on C3s. The combined performance of both McLaren drivers positions the Woking-based outfit as an early contender for competitive form.

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Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team saw George Russell in sixth with a 1m36.108s (56 laps, C3), while junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, undergoing a significant F1 test programme, completed 30 laps with a 1m37.629s on C1 tyres. Antonelli’s presence is a key talking point, as he is widely tipped for a future F1 seat, and his involvement in pre-season testing provides invaluable experience. Pierre Gasly of Alpine was eighth (1m36.765s, 49 laps, C3), though Alpine’s day was notably punctuated by an early red flag.

The entry of new manufacturers and teams also presented interesting data. Nico Hulkenberg, representing the new Audi team, placed ninth with a 1m36.861s from 73 laps on C3 tyres. This is a respectable showing for Audi’s first official test day, though their running was also interrupted by a red flag. The Racing Bulls team featured junior driver Arvid Lindblad, who managed 75 laps, recording a 1m37.945s on C3 tyres, demonstrating the Red Bull junior programme’s continued commitment to nurturing talent.

Williams’ Alex Albon, despite the team’s Mercedes power unit being highlighted as the most reliable, posted a 1m37.437s from 68 laps, placing him tenth. Carlos Sainz, another driver with a notable team switch for 2026, was testing for Williams and managed 77 laps with a time of 1m38.221s, suggesting Williams focused more on systems checks and long runs rather than outright performance. Sergio Perez (Cadillac) and Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) recorded 1m38.828s (58 laps, C2) and 1m39.150s (49 laps, C1) respectively, indicating Cadillac’s progress as a new engine partner. Lance Stroll of Aston Martin had a comparatively limited run, completing only 36 laps for a 1m39.883s on C2 tyres, raising questions about their initial programme or any potential issues.

Beyond the raw lap times, mileage data by engine manufacturer offered critical insights into initial reliability and development progress. The Mercedes power unit, supplying Williams, McLaren, Mercedes, and Alpine, collectively covered the most ground, accumulating a total of 2273 kilometres across 420 laps. This translated to an average of 569 kilometres per team, reinforcing Mercedes’ reputation for robust engineering. The image from the Sakhir circuit further highlighted this, showing that the Mercedes-powered Williams car was the single highest mileage car on Wednesday.

The Ferrari power unit, powering Ferrari, Haas, and Cadillac, collectively achieved 1916 kilometres over 354 laps. Crucially, with only three teams utilising their engines, this translated to an impressive average of 639 kilometres per team, the highest average among all manufacturers, suggesting strong reliability and efficiency from the Italian power unit on day one.

The Red Bull Ford partnership, supplying Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls, covered 1142 kilometres across 211 laps, averaging 571 kilometres per team. This is a solid start for the new Red Bull-Ford Powertrains collaboration, especially given the extensive development required for a new engine generation. Audi, as a standalone engine supplier for its own team, managed 660 kilometres from 122 laps, a respectable showing for a brand-new entrant to the sport’s engine manufacturing landscape.

In contrast, the Honda power unit, exclusively supplied to Aston Martin, registered the lowest mileage of the day, with only 195 kilometres completed over 36 laps. This significantly lower figure compared to other manufacturers suggests either a highly focused and limited testing programme or, potentially, early reliability challenges that curtailed their running. Further days of testing will be crucial for Aston Martin and Honda to catch up on vital data collection.

The opening day was not without its interruptions, with two red flags temporarily halting proceedings. The first incident occurred early in the morning session at 9:37 am, when Franco Colapinto, driving for Alpine, stopped on track. This brought out the red flags and resulted in valuable track time being lost for all teams, particularly for Alpine who were already among the teams with lower overall mileage. The second red flag emerged in the afternoon session at 2:32 pm, caused by Nico Hulkenberg’s Audi stopping on track. While such incidents are not uncommon during pre-season testing as teams push new components to their limits, they disrupt planned programmes and can delay crucial data acquisition, especially for a new team like Audi. Alpine, despite the setback, managed to get Gasly out for a decent lap count, while Colapinto’s running was significantly limited to just 28 laps.

Overall, Day One of the 2026 F1 Bahrain test offered an initial glimpse into the competitive order and the technical challenges and successes of the new season. While Lando Norris’s fastest lap provided a morale boost for McLaren, Max Verstappen’s extensive mileage underscored Red Bull’s comprehensive approach. The strong showing from Mercedes and Ferrari engine packages in terms of mileage also suggests a robust start for these established power unit suppliers. As testing continues through February 12 and 13, teams will intensify their focus on long-run pace, further systems checks, and understanding the intricate dynamics of their 2026 challengers on the challenging Sakhir circuit, where conditions of heat and potential sand on track add further variables to the testing equation. The true pecking order remains fluid, with strategic fuel loads and varied test programmes obscuring definitive conclusions until the season proper begins.

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Jonas Leo: Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.

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