Formula 1, Sportrik Media - George Russell put Mercedes on top of the timesheets on day one of the second 2026 F1 pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Mercedes continued its strong form from the opening test, with Russell posting a best lap of 1:33.459. The time was two-tenths of a second faster than the best effort set by team-mate Kimi Antonelli during the earlier running.
Oscar Piastri placed second for McLaren, just 0.010 seconds behind Russell. Charles Leclerc secured third for Ferrari.
Russell also completed the highest mileage of the day with 76 laps, followed by Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad, who logged 75 laps.
The results from the opening day of the second Bahrain test provide an early indication of the competitive picture ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season, although differing run programmes mean the true pecking order remains difficult to judge.
| POS | FOTO | RIDER / TEAM | TIME / GAP | PTS/LAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |  | George RussellMercedes | 1:33.459 United Kingdom | |
2 |  | Oscar PiastriMcLaren | 1:33.469 Australia | |
3 |  | Charles LeclercFerrari | 1:33.739 Monaco | |
4 |  | Lando NorrisMcLaren | 1:34.052 United Kingdom | |
5 |  | Kimi AntonelliMercedes | 1:34.158 Italy | |
6 |  | Isack HadjarRed Bull Racing | 1:34.260 Prancis | |
7 |  | Lewis HamiltonFerrari | 1:34.299 United Kingdom | |
8 |  | Carlos SainzWilliams | 1:35.113 Spain | |
9 |  | Franco ColapintoAlpine | 1:35.254 Argentina | |
10 |  | Gabriel BortoletoAudi | 1:35.263 Brazil | |
11 |  | Alexander AlbonWilliams | 1:35.690 Thailand | |
12 |  | Liam LawsonRacing Bulls | 1:35.753 New Zealand | |
13 |  | Oliver BearmanHaas | 1:35.778 United Kingdom | |
14 |  | Pierre GaslyAlpine | 1:35.898 France | |
15 |  | Lance StrollAston Martin | 1:35.974 Canada | |
16 |  | Esteban OconHaas | 1:36.418 France | |
17 |  | Fernando AlonsoAston Martin | 1:36.536 Spain | |
18 |  | Nico HulkenbergAudi | 1:36.741 Germany | |
19 |  | Arvid LindbladRacing Bulls | 1:36.769 Inggris | |
20 |  | Valtteri BottasCadillac | 1:36.798 Finlandia | |
21 |  | Sergio PerezCadillac | 1:38.191 Meksiko | |
22 |  | Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing | No Time Netherlands |
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