THE LINE-UP FOR THE SECOND WEEK OF F1 PRE-SEASON TESTING
Teams are back at the Bahrain International Circuit for three more testing days. Most teams have already done over 1000 km in the previous tests. McLaren and Williams led the mileage with 422 laps each, followed by Ferrari with 421 laps.
Teams will continue to test their cars, try new setups, and see what their 2026 machines can do in qualifying trim. Broadcasters now have access to the full test, not just the final hour.
Mercedes topped the timesheets in the first week, with 19-year-old Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli setting the fastest lap at 1m33.669s, just ahead of teammate George Russell. However, lap times are less important than mileage, and Antonelli ran the fewest laps due to technical issues with the W17.
Seven drivers managed 200 laps or more: Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon, Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, and Oliver Bearman.
Mercedes, despite impressing in Barcelona, ran the second-lowest laps in Bahrain due to problems, including a day where Antonelli did just three laps. Aston Martin also struggled, covering just over 1,000 km.
On engines, Mercedes-powered cars logged the most total km (over 13,000), but Ferrari-powered teams averaged the most per team, over 2,000 km each. Audi is close behind Mercedes on average, impressive for its F1 debut, while Honda (powering Aston Martin) recorded the lowest mileage among the five engine manufacturers.
Line up for the second week of testing in Bahrain:
| Team | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|
| McLaren | Norris [AM], Piastri [PM] | Norris [AM], Piastri [PM] | Piastri [AM], Norris [PM] |
| Mercedes | Antonelli [AM], Russell [PM] | Russell [AM], Antonelli [PM] | Antonelli [AM], Russell [PM] |
| Red Bull | Isack Hadjar | Max Verstappen | Hadjar [AM], Verstappen [PM] |
| Ferrari | Leclerc [AM], Hamilton [PM] | TBC | TBC |
| Williams | Alex Albon [AM], Carlos Sainz [PM] | Alex Albon | Carlos Sainz |
| Racing Bulls | Lindblad [AM], Lawson [PM] | Liam Lawson | Arvid Lindblad |
| Aston Martin | Alonso [AM], Stroll [PM] | Fernando Alonso | Lance Stroll |
| Haas | Ocon [AM], Bearman [PM] | Bearman [AM], Ocon [PM] | Ocon [AM], Bearman [PM] |
| Audi | Hulkenberg [AM], Bortoleto [PM] | Bortoleto [AM], Hulkenberg [PM] | Hulkenberg [AM], Bortoleto [PM] |
| Alpine | Gasly [AM], Colapinto [PM] | Franco Colapinto | Pierre Gasly |
| Cadillac | Perez [AM], Bottas [PM] | Bottas [AM], Perez [PM] | Perez [AM], Bottas [PM] |
The second and last pre-season test takes place at Sakhir from February 18 to 20, giving teams one last chance to try their cars before the 2026 season begins. Pirelli will bring all five dry compounds: C1, C2, C3 (already used in previous tests) and the softer C4 and C5, which will debut at this test. Teams can also carry over sets used for no more than 9 laps in the previous test.
Most teams mixed choices: Mercedes sticks to the hardest three. McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull, Alpine, Williams, Racing Bulls, Audi, and Haas added C4. Red Bull and others avoid the extremes, using C2, C3, and C4. Aston Martin goes softest with C3, C4, and C5. Cadillac will have at least one set of all five.
The tire colors are as follows: C1 and C2 are white (C1 has a shoulder stripe), C3 is yellow with yellow shoulders, C4 is yellow without the stripe, and C5 is red with a shoulder stripe.
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