Charles Leclerc led Ferrari to a dominant finish on the final day of the 2026 Bahrain pre-season testing, clocking a standout lap time of 1m31.992s. His performance left rivals, including Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, trailing by significant margins. While Norris managed second place, his testing was hindered by technical issues, ultimately completing only 47 laps. In contrast, Ferrari's SF-26 showcased both speed and reliability, racking up over 130 laps throughout the session.

By the Numbers
  • Leclerc's lap time: 1m31.992s, nearly one second faster than Norris.
  • Ferrari completed over 130 laps, showcasing excellent reliability.
State of Play
  • Leclerc set a strong tone early, leading the first and second hours as well.
  • McLaren faced reliability issues with Norris running limited laps due to cooling problems.
  • Aston Martin struggled significantly, with Lance Stroll only managing six laps in total.
What's Next

As teams prepare for the season opener in Australia, Ferrari's impressive performance has set a high benchmark. Meanwhile, McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes are pressured to address their performance issues. Aston Martin must regroup to overcome their pre-season challenges before the first race.

Bottom Line

Ferrari's dominance in Bahrain signals a strong start to the season, but other teams must recalibrate to keep pace. With major issues evident for McLaren and Aston Martin, their paths ahead will require swift corrective measures to remain competitive in the evolving landscape of Formula 1.