Lando Norris Tops Bahrain Pre-Season Testing as Drivers Adapt to 2026 Cars

The 2026 Formula 1 pre-season testing kicked off at the Bahrain International Circuit on Wednesday with Lando Norris setting the fastest time of the day, edging out reigning champion Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Norris, who took over the car from McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri for the afternoon session, recorded a best lap of 1:34.669 as the desert sun set, showcasing the early pace of the all-new McLaren.

Top Drivers Adapt to New 2026 Cars Amid Close Times and Incidents

Verstappen, who led the morning running, finished just 0.129 seconds behind Norris in his Red Bull, although teams’ testing programs make it difficult to judge true performance. Leclerc completed the top three, half a second off the pace.

Drivers are getting accustomed to a host of changes on their 2026 cars, including overhauled aerodynamics, updated power units with increased electrical output, and new driving modes. Esteban Ocon in the Haas and Piastri followed in fourth and fifth, with Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton completing the upper midfield.

Hamilton began the day in the cockpit for Mercedes, while Russell rotated in later. Nico Hulkenberg briefly caused a red flag when his Audi stopped before the final corner, but was able to return to the pits and rejoin after around 15 minutes.

Drivers Gain Crucial Mileage as Teams Prepare Data and Strategies for Thursday

Rounding out the top 10 were Pierre Gasly for Alpine and Alex Albon for Williams, who finally got valuable mileage after missing the Barcelona Shakedown due to car preparation delays. Kimi Antonelli and rookie Arvid Lindblad drove the Racing Bulls, with Lindblad enjoying a full day at the wheel while teammate Liam Lawson observed from the sidelines for his birthday.

Cadillac split track time between Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas, and Gabriel Bortoleto, occupying positions 14 to 16. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto finished at the back, with Colapinto experiencing a stoppage during the morning session.

In terms of mileage, Verstappen, one of four drivers to remain on track all day, completed more than 130 laps, while Ocon surpassed 100 laps individually. Teams will now analyze the data gathered during Wednesday’s session to refine setups and strategies for Thursday’s running. Drivers such as Isack Hadjar, Fernando Alonso, Ollie Bearman, and Liam Lawson are scheduled to take to the track for their first laps of the test, continuing the busy start to the 2026 pre-season.