Bahrain 2026: The numbers that defined the first test

After the first three days of 2026 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit were completed, all 11 teams and 22 drivers logged significant mileage. The key question after the opening running of the year is clear: who was the fastest and who completed the most laps?

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In outright pace, Mercedes set the benchmark. Andrea Kimi Antonelli recorded the fastest lap of the test with a 1m 33.669s, bettering George Russell’s earlier effort on the same day. However, the German outfit finished with 282 laps, the second-lowest total overall, in a week that included some technical issues.

In terms of mileage, McLaren and Williams shared top honours with 422 laps each. McLaren’s quickest time was a 1m 34.549s by Oscar Piastri, while Williams’ best effort was a 1m 36.793s from Alex Albon. The Woking squad once again looked consistent, while the Grove-based team stood out after missing the Barcelona shakedown.

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Ferrari followed closely with 420 laps, displaying overall solidity in both pace and reliability. Lewis Hamilton set their fastest lap with a 1m 34.209s, in a test where Charles Leclerc preferred to remain cautious when assessing the team’s competitive level.

Red Bull completed 343 laps and posted a best time of 1m 34.798s courtesy of Max Verstappen. Despite a few mechanical setbacks, the Milton Keynes outfit executed a solid program and made a positive impression on their rivals.

In the midfield, Haas impressed with 390 laps and a 1m 35.394s from Ollie Bearman, while Audi completed 353 laps with Nico Hulkenberg setting a 1m 36.291s. Alpine ended on 318 laps with a best time of 1m 35.806s from Franco Colapinto, during a test that included some stoppages.

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Further down on total mileage, Racing Bulls reached 326 laps with a 1m 36.808s from Liam Lawson, while Cadillac finished on 320 laps with a best time of 1m 36.824s from Valtteri Bottas. Both teams completed productive programmes despite minor issues.

The lowest mileage belonged to Aston Martin, with 206 laps and a fastest time of 1m 38.248s from Fernando Alonso. The team acknowledged that they still need to find more performance after a challenging start to pre-season.