Lando Norris Leads Pre-Season Testing Amid Red Bull Dominance

On the opening day of the 2026 Formula 1 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, Lando Norris topped the timesheets with a time of 1:34.669, edging out reigning world champion Max Verstappen by just 0.129 seconds. The McLaren driver, who took over from teammate Oscar Piastri in the afternoon session, completed his final lap under fading daylight to narrowly secure the top spot.

Despite ceding top honors in the final hour, Verstappen’s Red Bull displayed exceptional pace and reliability, completing a staggering 136 laps—more than any other driver. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished third, 0.5 seconds behind Norris, while Haas’ Esteban Ocon, McLaren’s Piastri, and Mercedes’ George Russell followed in the top six.

Williams made a strong comeback after missing the Barcelona shakedown, racking up 145 laps with Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon sharing duties. Alpine, in contrast, struggled as Franco Colapinto’s early stoppage brought out one of two red flags, with the other triggered by Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg, who managed to return after a brief off-track stop.

“We can’t come to any firm conclusions,” said McLaren team principal Zak Brown. “If I had to go Vegas (to bet on it), it looks like the big four are the big four, kind of hard to tell in what order.”

Verstappen’s Red Bull Emerges as Benchmark for the Field

While lap times offer little definitive insight during early testing, Red Bull’s performance caught the attention of rivals and team bosses alike. Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team principal, openly acknowledged that Red Bull has set the benchmark for the new 2026 regulations.

“We’ve seen a very, very strong Verstappen,” Wolff said. “They’ve done a very good job. The car, the power unit, are the benchmark at the moment, I would say. Then, obviously, you have Max in the car. That combination is strong.”

He also highlighted Red Bull’s ability to deploy significantly more electrical energy on straights than their rivals, maintaining consistent advantage over consecutive laps—something analysts noted as potentially worth up to a second per lap in race conditions.

Williams team principal James Vowles confirmed the gap, telling Sky Sports News: “We are seeing six tenths consistently. Into Turn 1, we can’t get close to that. Their speed into Turn 1 is mightily impressive.”

Mercedes Faces Scrutiny Over Engine Legality

Amid Red Bull’s on-track dominance, Mercedes found themselves under fire off the track. The team’s power unit, developed in-house but leveraging new interpretations of compression ratio rules, is being questioned by rival manufacturers and drivers. While Wolff insists the engine is “100 per cent legal,” seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton expressed concerns, emphasizing the need for fairness.

“I want to make sure we’re all starting on an equal playing field,” Hamilton stated, reflecting broader unease in the paddock. Wolff dismissed the controversy as “blown out of proportion,” attributing it to political lobbying: “If our competitors knew how little difference it makes, the standpoint would be a little bit silly.”

Mercedes still managed a solid day, with Russell placing sixth and rookie Kimi Antonelli logging 30 laps after garage delays. However, the team acknowledged challenges with car balance in Bahrain’s intense heat compared to cooler conditions in Barcelona.

Into Day Two: Stars Prepare for Action

With 13 of 14 teams logging substantial running, focus now turns to Thursday’s session. Isack Hadjar, Fernando Alonso, Ollie Bearman, and Liam Lawson—celebrating his birthday trackside—are set to take over for their respective teams.

As teams dive deep into telemetry and performance metrics, the message is clear: while Norris may have topped the timesheets on paper, Red Bull has sent the loudest statement of intent heading into Formula 1’s new era.