Ferrari’s Leclerc tops leaderboard mid-day in Bahrain

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc laid down an early marker as Formula 1’s second and final 2026 pre-season test burst into life under the Bahrain sun on Wednesday morning, with teams wasting no time in exploring the limits of their radically new machinery.

With just three decisive days of running remaining before the season opener, every lap carried extra weight at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Engineers focused on reliability and data gathering, while drivers began to reveal the first true hints of outright pace in the all-new generation of cars.

Leclerc Sets the Early Benchmark

Leclerc emerged as the standout performer of the opening session, guiding Ferrari’s SF-26 to the fastest lap of the entire pre-season so far.

His 1m33.739s effort not only topped the morning timesheets but also made him the first driver this winter to dip below the 1m34 barrier – a psychological and technical milestone so early in testing.

Leclerc’s run placed him just over three tenths clear of reigning world champion Lando Norris, whose McLaren looked composed and consistent across longer stints.

Close behind, Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli improved significantly on his pace from the first test, slotting into third and under half a second off Leclerc’s leading time. Notably, all three frontrunners logged well over fifty laps, underlining both performance and reliability.

Mixed Fortunes Across the Field

Behind the leading trio, the gap widened considerably. Alex Albon secured fourth for Williams but found himself nearly two seconds adrift of Ferrari’s headline pace.

Pierre Gasly, who briefly set the early tempo in the session, settled into fifth for Alpine as teams shifted focus toward heavier fuel loads and longer runs.

The morning proved more challenging for others. Red Bull’s programme was disrupted by a water system issue that sharply limited Isack Hadjar’s track time, leaving him with only a handful of laps compared to his rivals.

Aston Martin also encountered technical gremlins tied to its new Honda power unit, sidelining Fernando Alonso for extended periods and restricting his overall mileage.

Esteban Ocon quietly put together a solid session for Haas, finishing ahead of Alonso on the timesheets, while Nico Hulkenberg delivered steady progress for Audi in ninth.

One of the busiest drivers on track was Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad, who racked up an impressive 75 laps – the highest total of any individual during the morning.

Sergio Perez faced an uphill start with Cadillac after joining the session late and managing limited running, ultimately ending the morning at the foot of the order.

With a brief midday pause complete, attention quickly turned to the afternoon session, in which teams will continue to refine setups and chase further gains.

As the final Bahrain test day rolls onward, the early narrative was clear: Ferrari had struck first, but the competitive picture remains wide open.

Bahrain test - Day 4: Session times mid-day