Bahrain testing 2 - Day 1: Leclerc dominates the morning session, followed by McLaren and Mercedes

The sun beat down on the Bahrain International Circuit as the second and final pre-season test of the 2026 Formula 1 era got underway. With the revolutionary new regulations now just weeks away from their competitive debut, the morning session of Day 1 provided a fascinating, if occasionally fragmented, glimpse into the current pecking order. While the timing screens in testing are notoriously difficult to decipher, the body language of the cars and the reliability—or lack thereof—spoke volumes. Ferrari emerged as the early benchmark, with Charles Leclerc picking up exactly where the Scuderia left off last week, while heavyweights Red Bull Racing and the newcomers at Cadillac found themselves battling the gremlins that inevitably haunt such a massive technical transition.

Ferrari and Leclerc assert early dominance

The Scuderia’s performance reinforces the paddock whispers that they have perhaps made the most seamless transition to the new 50/50 power split between internal combustion and electrical energy. While Leclerc remained cautious, the consistency of his long runs suggested a car that is kind to its tyres and predictable for the driver—a vital trait given the narrower Pirelli rubber introduced for this season.

Mixed fortunes for McLaren and Mercedes

Lando Norris finished the session in second place, 0.313s adrift of Leclerc. It was a productive morning for McLaren, though not entirely without drama. Norris was seen experimenting heavily with the new "Active Aero" systems, tucking in behind Nico Hulkenberg’s Audi to test how the car behaves in dirty air without the traditional DRS. However, the low grip levels led to several high-profile lock-ups for the Briton. At one point, Norris flat-spotted a set of C2 tyres so severely entering the pit lane that a massive cloud of smoke enveloped the McLaren garage.

“The cars are a handful,” noted commentator Jolyon Palmer, observing Norris’s struggles to keep the car within the white lines during a particularly scrappy stint. Despite the lock-ups, Norris completed 55 laps, providing McLaren with the data they need to refine their "Overtake Mode" logic.

At Mercedes, the focus was firmly on the future as Kimi Antonelli took the wheel for the morning. The young Italian looked remarkably composed, finishing P3 with a 1m 34.158s. Mercedes was the only team to stick exclusively to the three hardest Pirelli compounds (C1, C2, and C3), eschewing the "glory runs" on softer rubber. Antonelli’s 70 laps were a testament to the W17’s reliability, and his pace on the medium tyres suggests that Mercedes is keeping plenty of performance in reserve. George Russell, watching from the sidelines before his afternoon stint, noted that the team is focused on "recharge" efficiency—ensuring the battery is topped up quickly through braking and coasting to maximize the new power unit's potential.

Red Bull’s reliability headache

While Ferrari soared, Red Bull Racing endured a frustrating morning. With Isack Hadjar scheduled to drive the RB22 all day—the only team not to swap drivers at lunch—every lost minute was a blow to the Frenchman’s preparation. Hadjar managed just 13 laps before a technical issue forced the car back into the garage for an extended stay.

This follows a difficult first test for Hadjar, who missed nearly an entire session last week. The sight of the Red Bull up on stands with mechanics swarming over the rear end is not what Christian Horner would have wanted to see, especially as they look to see if Hadjar can truly challenge Max Verstappen this year. Hadjar did eventually return to the track late in the session to set a 1m 36.188s, but he remains significantly behind on his run plan.

The pressure is on the Red Bull engineering team to provide Hadjar with a stable platform this afternoon. As the only driver staying in the cockpit for the full day, he has the opportunity to make up ground, but only if the RB22’s reliability woes are truly behind it.

Cadillac’s slow start and the 2026 technical challenge

F1’s newest entry, Cadillac, also found the morning tough going. Sergio Perez was confined to the garage for the first 90 minutes of the session as the team worked through what they described as "sensor issues." For a new team with no historical data to lean on, these lost hours are incredibly costly. Perez eventually emerged for a series of installation laps and short runs, finishing the morning with 25 laps and the slowest time of the active runners.

The Cadillac struggles highlight just how monumental the 2026 regulation change is. These cars are not just evolutions; they are a total rethink. The power units now rely on Advanced Sustainable Fuel and a much larger electrical contribution. The cars are smaller, lighter, and feature active front and rear wings that adjust on the straights to reduce drag.

Lindblad and Antonelli impress

One of the standout stories of the morning was Arvid Lindblad at Racing Bulls. The teenager completed more laps than anyone else on track, racking up a staggering 76 laps. While he had a few "squirrely" moments and a notable lock-up that flat-spotted his tyres, his ability to consistently churn out mileage was vital for the Faenza-based squad. Lindblad finished P10, but his focus was clearly on long-run data rather than single-lap pace.

Liam Lawson, Lindblad’s teammate, spent the morning observing from the garage, even taking time to throw a football around in the paddock with his trainer to stay sharp. The dynamic between the two at Racing Bulls will be one of the key narratives of the 2026 season, as Lawson looks to establish himself as a team leader against the highly-rated rookie.

Midfield progress and engineering reshuffles

Further down the order, Williams and Alpine showed flashes of decent pace. Alex Albon put the Williams P4 late in the session, a positive sign for a team that completed the most laps of anyone during the first test last week. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was also in the mix, finishing P5, though his teammate Esteban Ocon (driving for Haas this year) warned that the 2026 cars remain very sensitive to wind conditions.

“The cars are a bit more nimble, but they are twitchy when the wind picks up,” Ocon remarked after his 66-lap stint. Ocon is under pressure this year to lead the Haas project, especially after being challenged by Team Principal Ayao Komatsu to increase his technical contribution to the team.

At Aston Martin, the morning was as much about internal restructuring as it was about track time. The team has expanded its trackside engineering structure to cope with the 2026 demands. Gary Gannon has stepped up as Senior Race Engineer for Lance Stroll, while Fernando Alonso retains Andrew Vizard as his primary engineer, supported by Chris Cronin in a new senior role. Alonso finished the morning P8, surviving a "squirrely" moment at the final corner where he nearly lost the rear of the car twice in quick succession.

Looking ahead to the afternoon session

As the chequered flag fell on the morning session, the focus shifted to the afternoon. With the sun set to go down, the track temperatures will drop, providing more representative conditions for the season-opening race in April.

We expect to see a significant shift in the lineup, with heavy hitters like Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), George Russell (Mercedes), and Carlos Sainz (Williams) taking over from their teammates. For Red Bull, the mission is simple: keep Isack Hadjar on track. For Cadillac, the goal is to move past the sensor issues and allow Valtteri Bottas to get a feel for the car’s true potential.

Ferrari has set the bar high, but in the world of Formula 1 testing, the landscape can shift in an instant. The afternoon session promises more performance runs, more data, and perhaps a clearer answer to the question on everyone's lips: can anyone stop the Scuderia in 2026?