The 2026 Formula 1 season is officially underway with the first pre-season test in Bahrain, and the results are already sparking conversations among fans and experts alike. But here's where it gets controversial: are these early lap times a true indicator of what's to come, or just a teaser of the battles ahead?
Unlike the closed-door 'shakedown week' in Barcelona back in January, this test at the Sakhir circuit marks the first time teams and drivers get to showcase their 2026 machinery in a more public setting. Below, we break down the fastest lap times, total mileage, and some intriguing insights that might just surprise you.
Fastest Laps by Driver
Here’s how the drivers stacked up in terms of their quickest laps during the test. And this is the part most people miss: tire compounds played a significant role in these times. Every driver’s best lap was set on C3 soft tires, except for Lando Norris, Lance Stroll, and Franco Colapinto (all on C2 mediums) and Kimi Antonelli (on C1 hards).
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1m34.273s, Day 2
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1m34.669s, Day 1
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1m34.798s, Day 1
- Ollie Bearman (Haas) – 1m35.394s, Day 2
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 1m35.466s, Day 2
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 1m35.578s, Day 1
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1m35.602s, Day 1
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 1m36.433s, Day 1
- Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) – 1m36.561s, Day 2
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) – 1m36.670s, Day 2
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 1m36.765s, Day 2
- Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) – 1m36.824s, Day 2
- Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) – 1m36.861s, Day 1
- Alex Albon (Williams) – 1m37.229s, Day 2
- Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) – 1m37.470s, Day 2
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 1m37.592s, Day 2
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1m37.629s, Day 1
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 1m38.017s, Day 2
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 1m38.248s, Day 2
- Sergio Perez (Cadillac) – 1m38.653s, Day 2
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 1m39.883s, Day 1
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 1m40.330s, Day 1
Fastest Laps by Driver (Gap to Leader)
To put things in perspective, here’s how far each driver was from Charles Leclerc’s leading time:
- Charles Leclerc – 1m34.273s
- Lando Norris – +0.396s
- Max Verstappen – +0.525s
- Ollie Bearman – +1.121s
- George Russell – +1.193s
- Esteban Ocon – +1.305s
- Oscar Piastri – +1.329s
- Lewis Hamilton – +2.160s
- Isack Hadjar – +2.288s
- Gabriel Bortoleto – +2.397s
- Pierre Gasly – +2.450s
- Valtteri Bottas – +2.551s
- Nico Hulkenberg – +2.588s
- Alexander Albon – +2.956s
- Arvid Lindblad – +3.197s
- Carlos Sainz – +3.319s
- Kimi Antonelli – +3.356s
- Liam Lawson – +3.744s
- Fernando Alonso – +3.975s
- Sergio Perez – +4.380s
- Lance Stroll – +5.610s
- Franco Colapinto – +6.057s
Fastest Laps by Team
When it comes to team performance, Ferrari took the top spot, followed closely by McLaren and Red Bull. Here’s the full breakdown:
- Ferrari – 1m34.273s
- McLaren – 1m34.669s
- Red Bull – 1m34.798s
- Haas – 1m35.394s
- Mercedes – 1m35.466s
- Audi – 1m36.670s
- Alpine – 1m36.765s
- Cadillac – 1m36.824s
- Williams – 1m37.229s
- Racing Bulls – 1m37.470s
- Aston Martin – 1m38.248s
Total Laps by Team
Mileage is another critical factor, as it indicates reliability and testing intensity. Williams led the pack with 276 laps, while Aston Martin completed the fewest at 134 laps. Here’s the full list:
- Williams – 276 laps
- Ferrari – 271 laps
- McLaren – 261 laps
- Haas – 245 laps
- Audi – 236 laps
- Red Bull – 223 laps
- Cadillac – 216 laps
- Racing Bulls – 208 laps
- Alpine – 174 laps
- Mercedes – 143 laps
- Aston Martin – 134 laps
Total Laps by Driver
Charles Leclerc topped the charts with 219 laps, while Franco Colapinto completed the fewest at 28 laps. Here’s how the drivers stacked up:
- Charles Leclerc – 219 laps
- Lando Norris – 207 laps
- Arvid Lindblad – 158 laps
- Pierre Gasly – 146 laps
- Carlos Sainz – 146 laps
- Max Verstappen – 136 laps
- Ollie Bearman – 130 laps
- Alex Albon – 130 laps
- Nico Hulkenberg – 120 laps
- Gabriel Bortoleto – 116 laps
- Valtteri Bottas – 116 laps
- Esteban Ocon – 115 laps
- George Russell – 110 laps
- Sergio Perez – 100 laps
- Fernando Alonso – 98 laps
- Isack Hadjar – 87 laps
- Oscar Piastri – 54 laps
- Lewis Hamilton – 52 laps
- Liam Lawson – 50 laps
- Lance Stroll – 36 laps
- Kimi Antonelli – 33 laps
- Franco Colapinto – 28 laps
Controversial Question: Does early testing performance truly predict season success, or are we reading too much into these initial results? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
