Bahrain test - Day 3: Mercedes and Antonelli sign off on top

Formula 1’s first three-day pre-season test in Bahrain concluded with Mercedes and Kimi Antonelli at the top of the timesheets, but with more questions than answers across the field.

Antonelli and team mate George Russell emerged as the outright pace-setters of the entire test, sealing a dominant one-two finish for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team – yet the significance of those times remains fiercely debated amid widespread sandbagging claims and strategic secrecy up and down the pit lane.

Throughout the week, teams deflected attention from themselves while quietly studying rivals, and the final afternoon only deepened the mystery rather than resolving it.

Mercedes, already tipped by bookmakers as an early title favourite, now carries the dual burden of impressive lap times and lingering suspicion that even more performance may still be hidden.

Antonelli’s Statement Run

The day initially belonged to Russell, whose morning benchmark comfortably held into the early hours of the final session. At that stage, Antonelli had yet to log a competitive lap, prompting brief speculation about another possible technical issue.

Mercedes, however, insisted everything was proceeding according to plan – and when the young Italian finally rolled out, he wasted little time validating that claim.

Within minutes he climbed into contention, first breaking into the top three before delivering two successive improvements that ultimately defined the entire test.

His final effort not only eclipsed Russell but also stood as the fastest lap recorded across all three days, cementing Mercedes’ headline status heading into the season’s opening round.

Red Flags, Practice Starts and Late Disruption

The closing phase of the session shifted from performance runs to procedural drama when Lewis Hamilton brought his Ferrari to a halt on circuit with just over ten minutes remaining.

Although the car was swiftly recovered, officials opted to conduct system checks rather than fully resume competitive running, effectively ending meaningful lap attempts early.

Earlier, practice start simulations had already produced moments of tension. Several drivers struggled to launch cleanly, with stalled cars and aborted getaways briefly turning the pit straight into a rehearsal of worst-case scenarios.

Among the near incidents was a scare for Franco Colapinto, whose getaway sequence nearly escalated into contact before anti-stall systems intervened.

Behind Mercedes and Ferrari, Oscar Piastri logged extensive mileage for McLaren Formula 1 Team, showcasing consistency rather than outright speed.

• Read also: Red Bull rejects 'benchmark’ tag as Bahrain mind games heat up

Max Verstappen ensured Red Bull Racing remained within striking distance in fifth, while a tightly packed midfield underscored just how compressed the competitive order could be.

As the Bahrain sun dipped and garages began to close, the only certainty was uncertainty itself.

Mercedes may leave with the fastest time, but the true hierarchy will not reveal itself until qualifying in Melbourne — where fuel loads, engine modes and hidden agendas will finally be stripped away. Until then, the stopwatch tells a story, but not necessarily the whole truth.

Bahrain Test - Day 3: Final lap times