F1, Sportrik Media - Charles Leclerc ended the final day of the 2026 Formula 1 pre-season test in Bahrain at the top of the timesheets, leading Lando Norris and Max Verstappen as Friday’s running brought the second test to a close at the Bahrain International Circuit. The Ferrari driver also secured the fastest overall time across both official test events in Sakhir.
Having already set the pace during the morning session, Leclerc returned to the track at 15:00 local time for the final four-hour window before teams pack up for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 6–8. As track conditions improved in the late afternoon, the Monegasque steadily lowered his benchmark, eventually clocking a 1:31.992 to end the day 0.879 seconds clear of Norris.
The session began quietly, with several teams preparing driver changes. Aston Martin confirmed early that its programme would be significantly limited following a battery-related issue that curtailed Fernando Alonso’s running on Thursday. According to a statement from Honda, investigations into the power unit issue forced the Silverstone-based squad to adopt a restricted plan. As a result, Lance Stroll completed just six untimed laps before the team ended its test with more than two hours remaining.
Behind Leclerc, Norris secured second position for McLaren, while Verstappen placed third for Red Bull. George Russell finished fourth, boosting Mercedes’ mileage after team-mate Kimi Antonelli suffered a pneumatic pressure issue earlier in the day that brought out a red flag. Pierre Gasly completed the top five for Alpine.
Throughout the afternoon, teams ran varied programmes, with several focusing on race simulations. Carlos Sainz was the first to fit the C5 soft compound tyres in the closing stages for Williams, while rookie Arvid Lindblad recorded the highest lap count of the day with 165 tours for Racing Bulls.
Positions six through ten were filled by Oliver Bearman for Haas, Gabriel Bortoleto for Audi, Antonelli, Lindblad and Sainz. Oscar Piastri ended the session 11th, followed by Esteban Ocon and Isack Hadjar. The Cadillac pair of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez slotted into P14 and P16 respectively, separated by Nico Hulkenberg.
With pre-season testing now concluded, teams will analyse data before the 24-round campaign begins in Melbourne. The competitive order remains closely scrutinised, but Ferrari’s pace-setting performance positions it strongly heading into the opening round of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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Charles Leclerc tops Bahrain Test 2026 with Ferrari pace, while Aston Martin faces Honda power unit concerns before F1 Australia 2026.
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