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The sun beat down on the Bahrain International Circuit as a new era of Formula 1 officially roared into life. After months of anticipation, secret wind tunnel sessions, and a chilly shakedown in Barcelona, the 2026 season began in earnest with the first morning of pre-season testing. This isn't just another year; it is a total reset. With a radical overhaul of the technical regulationsâencompassing new chassis designs, active aerodynamics, and a 50/50 power split between the internal combustion engine and electric batteryâthe pecking order is a complete mystery. As the green light flickered on at the end of the pit lane, the silence of the desert was shattered by the first official runs of these smaller, nimbler, and more sustainable machines.
Max Verstappen wasted no time in reminding the field why he remains the benchmark. Driving his Red Bull, the Dutchman topped the timing sheets with a 1m 35.433s, a lap that stood unchallenged through the final hour of the morning session. Interestingly, Verstappen has moved away from the number one he carried as defending champion, opting instead to run the number three this seasonâa departure from his traditional 33.
While the headline time will grab the eyes of the fans, Red Bullâs focus was clearly on reliability and data correlation. Verstappen completed 66 laps, roughly a full race distance, without any major mechanical setbacks. His morning wasn't entirely flawless, however; a significant lock-up into Turn 1 sent a plume of white smoke into the Bahraini air, though the expansive run-off area allowed him to continue without damage. The RB22 appeared stable, particularly in the high-speed sections, suggesting that Adrian Neweyâs successors at Red Bull have managed to interpret the new "active aero" rules with their trademark efficiency.
Oscar Piastri finished the session as Verstappenâs closest challenger, trailing by just 0.169s. McLaren enters 2026 as the reigning Constructors' Champions, and the early signs suggest the Woking-based squad has transitioned well into the new regulations. Piastriâs program focused on shorter bursts of speed followed by aerodynamic mapping, utilizing the C3 medium compound to great effect.
At Mercedes, George Russell secured the third-fastest time, 0.675s off the pace. There is a palpable sense of optimism within the Silver Arrows' garage. Many paddock insiders have pointed to Mercedes as the potential favorites for this new era, drawing parallels to 2014 when they dominated the introduction of the turbo-hybrid power units. Russellâs 38 laps were trouble-free, a stark contrast to the reliability "gremlins" that have occasionally plagued the team in previous opening tests.
The cars circulating the Sakhir desert today look and behave differently than their predecessors. The 2026 regulations have introduced "active aero," a system where both the front and rear wings adjust their angles to reduce drag on the straights and increase downforce in the corners. Observers at trackside noted the visible movement of the wing elements, a dance of carbon fiber designed to make the cars faster on the straights while maintaining cornering speeds.
Furthermore, the traditional DRS (Drag Reduction System) has been replaced by a new "Overtake" mode. This system relies on energy deployment from the battery. If a driver is within one second of the car ahead, they gain access to an extra burst of electrical power. This shift places a massive premium on energy management. We saw several drivers, including Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz, spending time following other cars to see how the smaller 2026 chassis handle "dirty air." The intention of the smaller dimensions is to allow for closer racing, and the early feedback from the cockpit suggests the cars are indeed more predictable when tucked up behind a rival.
Perhaps the most impressive performance of the morning came from Williams and their new recruit, Carlos Sainz. After production delays forced the Grove-based team to miss the Barcelona shakedown, there were fears they would be on the back foot. However, Sainz silenced those concerns by completing a staggering 77 lapsâthe highest count of any driver in the session.
Williams Team Principal James Vowles remained cautiously optimistic about the FW48âs debut. Speaking to the media during the session, Vowles noted that the car had "no vices" during its initial runs. This reliability is a testament to the work done at the factory to overcome their early-year hurdles. Sainz spent much of his time on the C2 and C3 compounds, focusing on long-run consistency rather than outright pace. His ability to jump into a new environment and immediately lead the lap count bodes well for Williamsâ ambitions to climb the midfield ladder.
All eyes were on the only true rookie on the 2026 grid: 18-year-old Arvid Lindblad. Stepping into the Racing Bulls (VCARB) seat vacated by Isack Hadjar, the young Briton looked remarkably composed. Lindblad completed 75 laps, just two shy of Sainzâs leading total, and briefly sat at the top of the timing screens during the early stages of the session.
For a driver who won't turn 19 until August, the physical and mental demands of an F1 car are immense, especially with the added complexity of the 2026 steering wheel controls. Lindbladâs performance was a "quietly efficient" masterclass in rookie testing, avoiding the spins and errors that often catch out newcomers. His neck might be sore by the end of the day, but his stock in the paddock has certainly risen.
Lewis Hamiltonâs first official morning as a Ferrari driver was a mix of high-intensity data gathering and a minor "learning moment." The seven-time champion suffered a half-spin at Turn 1, losing the rear on entry and sliding into the run-off area. While it caused a brief yellow flag, Hamilton was able to recover and continue his program, eventually finishing fourth fastest. Hamilton is looking for a resurgence in 2026, hoping these smaller, more agile cars suit his driving style better than the "ground effect" era machines.
The session also marked the official debut of Audi and Cadillac. Audi, having completed their takeover of the Sauber entry, saw Gabriel Bortoleto finish 8th with 25 laps. The team is still operating out of Hinwil but is now powered by a dedicated Audi power unit. Meanwhile, Cadillac made history as the 11th team on the grid. Valtteri Bottas took the reins for the American manufacturer, running a program heavily focused on aerodynamic correlation using "flow-vis" paint. The presence of 22 cars on track has changed the dynamic of the session, and it will certainly spice up qualifying later this year when six cars are eliminated in Q1.
While most teams enjoyed a productive morning, Alpine faced the first significant hurdle of the test. Franco Colapinto, who took over the seat mid-way through 2025 and retained it for the new era, brought out the only red flag of the session. His Alpine A526 came to a halt on track with what appeared to be a mechanical failure, forcing a 15-minute stoppage.
The team managed to get the car back to the pits and eventually returned Colapinto to the track, but the lost time meant he finished the morning with the lowest lap count of the active runners (23 laps). For a team that struggled significantly in 2025 and has now switched to Mercedes power units, every minute of track time is vital. They will be hoping for a smoother afternoon when Pierre Gasly takes over the driving duties.
As the session drew to a close, the heat of the midday sun began to give way to a slight breeze, which carried sand onto the circuit and challenged the grip levels. The "morning" four hours provided a tantalizing glimpse into the future of Formula 1. While Verstappen and Red Bull hold the early advantage, the sheer volume of laps completed by Williams and Racing Bulls suggests that reliability across the field is higher than many expected for such a radical rule change.
The teams will now spend the lunch break analyzing mountains of data before the second four-hour session begins. With several high-profile drivers like Fernando Alonso, Charles Leclerc, and Kimi Antonelli waiting in the wings to take over their respective cars, the intensity is only set to increase. Testing times should always be taken with a grain of salt, but the body language of the cars and the smiles in the garages tell a story of a sport successfully navigating its most ambitious transition in decades.
âItâs a back-to-school feeling in the desert,â noted F1 TVâs Lawrence Barretto. âThe teams have seen each other in Barcelona, but this is where the real work begins. James Vowles told me the Williams has 'no vices,' and if they can maintain this momentum, they will have caught up all the time they lost last week.â
As the sun sets over Sakhir later today, we will have a clearer picture of who has truly mastered the 2026 puzzle. For now, the reigning champion remains the man to beat, but the gap is closing, and the new regulations are already delivering the unpredictability the sport craves.
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.