Lando Norris set the pace in Thursday’s first session in Bahrain pre-season test, putting McLaren firmly at the top of the leaderboard.
The Briton clocked a 1m33.453s, holding onto the top spot when the session was brought to an early close with ten minutes remaining to allow teams to conduct practice starts.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was second just 0.131s adrift, completing more than 50 laps as he focused on consistent running.
George Russell followed in the Mercedes, posting a time 0.658s off Norris’ best while leading mileage, completing a hefty 77 laps. Williams’ Alex Albon secured fourth with a 1m35.130s, ahead of Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Haas’ Ollie Bearman, who rounded out the top six.
Ferrari’s Bahrain troubles continued, as the team faced technical issues after a seemingly flawless first test. Lewis Hamilton’s session was limited by a chassis problem, restricting him to just five laps before the lunch break.
Despite the short stint, the seven-time world champion made a striking impression during his limited track time as he showcased his car’s 180° rear wing flap rotation.
Mixed Fortunes Across the Field
Other drivers saw varying levels of track time. Fernando Alonso logged 40 laps in the Aston Martin, while Liam Lawson managed just under 30 laps in the Racing Bull. Valtteri Bottas joined late for Cadillac, completing 57 laps but remaining 6.7s off the pace after a cautious start.
With McLaren enjoying a smooth session and Red Bull clocking consistent mileage, the focus for most teams continues to be reliability and data gathering ahead of the Australian season opener.
Testing resumes in Bahrain from 12:00 GMT, giving teams another opportunity to refine setups and iron out early issues before the first race of 2026.
| # | Driver | Team | Gap | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:33.453 | 172 | |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +0.131 | 1:33.584 | 56 |
| 3 | George Russell | Mercedes | +0.658 | 1:34.111 | 77 |
| 4 | Alex Albon | Williams | +1.677 | 1:35.130 | 71 |
| 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | +1.810 | 1:35.263 | 29 |
| 6 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | +1.826 | 1:35.279 | 69 |
| 7 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | +2.053 | 1:35.506 | 54 |
| 8 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | +3.506 | 1:36.959 | 27 |
| 9 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +4.019 | 1:37.472 | 40 |
| 10 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +6.217 | 1:39.670 | 5 |
| 11 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | +6.740 | 1:40.193 | 58 |
