Mercedes Edge Ahead as F1 Preseason Testing Intensifies in Bahrain

Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari took center stage on the opening day of the second and final 2026 Formula 1 preseason test in Bahrain, with George Russell edging out Oscar Piastri by a mere 0.010 seconds to top the timesheets. The tightly packed leaderboard—less than three-tenths of a second separating the top three teams—signals a fiercely competitive start to the new season as teams fine-tune their 2026 challengers ahead of the Australian Grand Prix on March 8.

Russell’s lap of 1:33.459 came late in the afternoon as cooler track conditions offered better grip, allowing drivers to extract more performance from the new generation of cars. Piastri, who led for much of the day, stayed within striking distance, while Charles Leclerc’s morning effort—a 1:33.739—placed him third despite track temperatures peaking at their highest.

Ferrari Shows Strong Signs of Progress

Ferrari, often cautious in earlier testing phases, began to reveal their pace on Day 1. They introduced a new aerodynamic wing behind the exhaust designed to boost rear downforce and enhance high-speed stability. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton spoke positively about the car’s development, notably saying it now carries aspects of his “DNA” after contributing input during the design process.

Despite losing 90 minutes to a technical issue, Hamilton returned for the final hour and expressed confidence in the team’s trajectory. "I feel like we’ve made progress compared to last week, and I’m continuing to build my understanding of the car," he said. "We’re still working on fine-tuning the balance, but we’re moving in the right direction."

McLaren Maintain Consistency with Strong Mileage

Reigning Constructors’ Champions McLaren completed 124 laps across the day with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri sharing duties. The team focused on short and long runs while experimenting with differing power unit configurations. Performance chief Mark Temple noted that each lap continues to deliver valuable data—"We’re still learning with each lap, but that’s a good sign that we’re making solid progress."

While cautious about their standing relative to rivals, insiders suggest McLaren remain within the top four—likely just off the absolute pace of Mercedes and Ferrari but still firmly in the mix for the season opener.

Mercedes Demonstrate High Stability and Reliability

Mercedes brought several upgrades to their W17 chassis, including aerodynamic refinements and suspension tweaks. Trackside chief Andrew Shovlin confirmed that initial feedback has been positive—"They seem to be doing what we hoped," he said, adding that the team has managed to keep the car in a consistent performance window and control tyre degradation effectively.

Young driver Kimi Antonelli completed 69 laps—just nine fewer than Russell—indicating strong reliability after earlier setbacks in testing. With consistent running and a clean programme ahead, Mercedes appear well-positioned to challenge for early-season honours.

Technical and Procedural Developments Off Track

Off the track, the FIA revealed progress in resolving the ongoing dispute over Mercedes’ engine compression ratios. With four teams aligned against the British constructor, a vote is expected soon on introducing in-season testing to verify compliance under real-world, on-track conditions—rather than just during cold engine checks. The FIA insists a resolution will be reached before Melbourne to prevent any protests from overshadowing the season opener.

Race start procedures were also trialed, with a new five-second pre-start hold introduced during testing to allow turbocharging systems to spool up. Drivers, including Valtteri Bottas and Hamilton, downplayed safety concerns, describing the adjustment as "definitely not dangerous." The FIA said the trial was "constructive," and further evaluation will take place throughout the week.