Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Charles Leclerc and Scuderia Ferrari concluded the final day of the 2026 pre-season test at Bahrain International Circuit at the top of the timesheets, while Aston Martin F1 Team endured a troubled end to the week ahead of the Australian season opener.
Leclerc delivered a 1m31.992 on C4 tyres, the only driver across the three-day test to break into the 1m31s bracket. The Monegasque completed 130 laps in the SF-26, combining qualifying simulations with extended race runs. His benchmark was 2.1 seconds slower than the 2025 Bahrain pole lap set by Oscar Piastri, providing a reference point for performance progression under stable regulations.
Reigning world champion Lando Norris secured second place but remained nearly nine-tenths adrift of Leclerc’s headline time. The top five was completed by Max Verstappen, George Russell, and Pierre Gasly, reinforcing the indication that the established frontrunners continue to dictate the competitive order entering 2026.
In contrast, Aston Martin faced significant disruption. Lance Stroll managed only six laps on Friday, concluding a week in which he logged just 32 laps without a single timed effort. Persistent power unit issues linked to Honda severely restricted the team’s programme, raising operational concerns ahead of Melbourne.
Further down the order, Carlos Sainz placed Williams Racing 10th, 2.3 seconds off the outright pace despite running the softer C5 compound. The emerging competitive structure suggests three distinct groups: the traditional top four, a midfield cluster including Haas, Alpine and Racing Bulls, and a trailing pack still seeking stability before the championship begins.
With Ferrari closing testing on a clear performance high and Aston Martin confronting technical uncertainty, the competitive landscape shaped in Bahrain now shifts focus to the opening round of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship in Australia.
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Charles Leclerc tops final day of F1 2026 Bahrain test ahead of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen before Australian GP.
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