Bahrain Testing 2 - Day 2: Antonelli tops the afternoon session while Ferrari sparks debate

The sun set over the Sakhir desert, but the heat of the 2026 Formula 1 revolution only intensified as Day 2 of pre-season testing concluded at the Bahrain International Circuit. With the sport entering its most significant regulatory shift in history, the second day of running provided a tantalizing glimpse into the pecking order, technical ingenuity, and the inevitable reliability "gremlins" that come with a blank-sheet design. While the morning belonged to the established guard, the evening belonged to the new generation, as Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli surged to the top of the timing sheets, signaling that the Silver Arrows might have found their rhythm after a tentative start to the year.

Antonelli and Mercedes make a statement

Mercedes’ reliability also seems to have turned a corner. After power unit issues hampered their progress in the Barcelona shakedown, the team combined for a massive 158 laps today. George Russell handled the morning duties, completing 77 laps, before handing over to Antonelli, who added another 81 to the tally. While the team remains cautious, the paddock consensus is that the Silver Arrows are hiding significant performance. As Charles Leclerc noted earlier in the week, there is a feeling that Mercedes is playing a high-stakes game of poker with their engine modes.

McLaren’s reliability masterclass

If Mercedes took the headlines for pace, McLaren took the honors for productivity. The Woking-based squad bagged the most laps of any team today, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri combining for a staggering 159 tours of the 5.412km circuit. Norris topped the morning session with a 1m 33.453s, a time that held up well into the afternoon until the track conditions improved.

Piastri’s afternoon was nearly perfect until a late-session scare. During the trial of the new starting procedure, the Australian’s McLaren pulled off down an escape road, triggering brief yellow flags. However, the issue appeared to be a minor sensor glitch or a software reset, as he was soon back underway. “The car is very lively in the slow and medium speed corners... The handling is good, it is a bit more responsive, you can play a bit more with it,” explained Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, echoing a sentiment felt across the pit lane regarding the 2026 chassis’ nimbler feel. McLaren’s ability to run race simulations back-to-back suggests they have hit the ground running with their cooling package and energy management.

Red Bull’s aggressive evolution and Verstappen’s stamina

Max Verstappen was the only driver to spend the entire day in the cockpit, and the Dutchman put in a Herculean effort, completing 139 laps alone. While he finished third on the timing sheets, three and a half tenths back from Antonelli, his pace during a late-evening race simulation sent shivers through the pit lane. Verstappen was consistently lapping in the mid-1m 36s range during his long runs, showing minimal degradation on the new, narrower Pirelli tires.

The RB22 itself is a testament to Red Bull’s aggressive design philosophy. Technical expert Sam Collins noted that the car seen today was "dramatically different" from the one that broke cover last week. With new undercuts, a revised sidepod arrangement, and a complex floor, Red Bull is clearly not resting on its laurels. This is also the first real test for the Red Bull Powertrains unit, an unknown quantity that has so far proven to be both reliable and potent. Verstappen spent much of the day running on prototype tires, effectively masking his true qualifying pace, but his comfort in the car was evident as he pushed the limits, even surviving a minor lock-up at Turn 4 during the "golden hour."

Ferrari’s technical loophole: the flipping wing

The talk of the paddock, however, wasn't just about lap times; it was about Ferrari’s "flipping" rear wing. As the 2026 regulations introduce Active Aero to reduce drag on straights, Ferrari appears to have found a unique interpretation of the rules. Instead of the traditional DRS-style opening, the upper element of the Ferrari wing appears to rotate almost entirely, nearly flipping upside down when in "Straight Mode."

This innovative solution is aimed at maximizing the transition between high-downforce cornering and low-drag straight-line speed. While Williams boss James Vowles admitted the design fell into the category of something his team would need to "crunch numbers" on immediately, others were more skeptical. Pedro de la Rosa, Team Ambassador for Aston Martin, remarked: “I don't know what is the purpose of that - it looks a slow way of bringing the downforce back. I don't know...”

Despite the technical intrigue, it was a difficult day for the Scuderia. Lewis Hamilton was confined to the garage for much of the morning due to a reliability issue, managing only six laps before the lunch break. He recovered in the afternoon to reach 71 laps, but the lost time means Ferrari is trailing in their data-gathering mission. When the car was in the garage, Ferrari mechanics formed their customary "human wall" to shield the rear of the car from prying eyes, suggesting there is more to their 2026 floor than meets the eye.

Heartbreak for Alonso and Aston Martin

The only red flag of the afternoon was caused by Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard was mid-way through a stint when his Aston Martin came to a clattering halt on the main straight. Replays showed the steering wheel display going blank followed by what sounded like a "box of parts clattering around" inside the power unit. It was a somber sight for the team, as the car had to be recovered on a flatbed truck, shielded by plastic sheeting to protect the floor design.

Aston Martin has struggled for mileage throughout testing, and today was no exception, with the team managing only 68 laps. With the first Adrian Newey-designed Aston Martin carrying so much hype, the early reliability woes are a cause for concern. Alonso’s frustration was visible even through his helmet as he walked away from the stranded AMR26. The team now faces a race against time to diagnose the failure before the final day of testing tomorrow.

Midfield battles and Cadillac’s steep learning curve

Further down the order, the battle for the midfield is already heating up. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto put in a solid shift with 121 laps, finishing 6th fastest. The Enstone team seems to have a reliable base, though Colapinto did suffer a heavy lock-up at Turn 8 as he pushed the limits of the new braking systems.

Cadillac, the sport’s newest entry, continues to face a steep learning curve. Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez managed 51 laps between them, but the car spent significant time fitted with large aero rakes as the team struggled to correlate their wind tunnel data with the track. Reliability issues linked to sensors have plagued their week, leaving them at the bottom of the lap charts. However, the team remains optimistic, with Jolyon Palmer noting that while they are losing "precious running," the data they are getting from their limited laps is high quality.

Looking ahead to the final day

With only eight hours of testing remaining before the freight is packed for Australia, the pressure is mounting. Tomorrow will see the final chance for teams to refine their setups and for drivers like Charles Leclerc and Lance Stroll to get their final laps in the car.

The pecking order remains a mystery wrapped in an enigma, but the trends are emerging. Mercedes and McLaren look robust, Red Bull looks innovative and fast, and Ferrari remains the wild card with their radical aero solutions. As the teams prepare for the final day in Bahrain, the question isn't just who is fastest, but who can survive the 57 laps of the season opener in Melbourne.

Make sure to join us tomorrow at 09:45 local time for the final day of pre-season testing. If today was anything to go by, the 2026 season is going to be a technical and sporting rollercoaster that no F1 fan can afford to miss.