Leclerc Leads the Way as Ferrari Flexes in Bahrain While Mercedes and Red Bull Hit Snags
Charles Leclerc put Ferrari on top of the timesheets during the second day of pre-season testing in Bahrain, clocking in a 1:34.273 lap that reset the benchmark for the week and offered a clear message: the Scuderia came to this test ready to work.
After Lando Norris opened the three-day session with the fastest time on Day 1, Leclerc took control on Thursday morning, shaving nearly four-tenths off the previous best. The Ferrari SF-26 looked composed and reliable throughout the day, with Leclerc not only topping the charts but also logging 139 laps - including a full race simulation in the afternoon.
McLaren, meanwhile, kept things steady. Norris may have finished half a second off Leclerc’s pace and a tenth slower than his own best from Wednesday, but the reigning world champion and his team will be pleased with the consistency. Norris racked up 149 laps - the most of anyone on the day - as McLaren continues to quietly build on its early momentum from Barcelona.
Both teams are clearly making the most of the extended pre-season format, which was designed to give everyone extra time to adapt to the sweeping regulation changes coming in 2026, particularly around power units and chassis design. So far, Ferrari and McLaren are taking full advantage.
But it wasn’t smooth sailing across the board.
Mercedes and Red Bull Hit Speed Bumps
While Ferrari and McLaren cruised through their programs, Mercedes and Red Bull - two teams that had turned heads during the initial shakedown in Barcelona - ran into trouble early on Day 2.
Mercedes prospect Kimi Antonelli didn’t register a timed lap in the morning session due to a power unit issue, completing just three laps before the team was forced to bring the car back in. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar didn’t fare much better - a hydraulic leak confined him to a single installation lap before lunch.
Both teams did manage to recover in the afternoon. George Russell stepped in for Mercedes and salvaged the day with 54 laps and a time good enough for fourth overall. Hadjar, once Red Bull sorted out the hydraulics, put in a solid 87 laps to get back on track, even if his best time was over two seconds off Leclerc’s pace.
Still, for teams with championship aspirations, any lost track time during testing is a concern - especially in a season with so many technical adjustments on the horizon. The reliability Ferrari has shown so far - zero major issues across two days - is exactly what teams are hoping to see at this stage.
The Bigger Picture: Testing Pace, Reliability, and What It All Means
While Leclerc’s chart-topping lap will grab headlines, it’s the combination of pace and mileage that really matters here. Ferrari looks like a team that has come into 2026’s new era with a clear plan and a car that’s responding well. The SF-26 hasn’t just been quick - it’s been consistent, and that’s arguably more important this early in the year.
McLaren, aiming for a third straight Constructors’ title, is also showing signs of a strong foundation. After a hiccup in Barcelona, they’ve settled into a groove. Norris continues to look sharp, and the car is giving the team the kind of feedback they’ll need to stay ahead in a field that’s only getting tighter.
Behind the front-runners, Haas had a quietly productive day with Oliver Bearman finishing third on the timesheet and logging 130 laps - a strong showing for the American outfit. Audi, Alpine, and Williams all got solid mileage in, while Racing Bulls and Aston Martin continued to ease into the new testing cycle.
Here’s how the timesheet shook out on Day 2:
Day 2 Bahrain Testing Timesheet
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|----------|----------------------|------------------|------------|------| | 1 | Charles Leclerc* | Ferrari | 1:34.273 | 139 |
| 2 | Lando Norris* | McLaren | +0.511 | 149 | | 3 | Oliver Bearman* | Haas | +1.121 | 130 |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | +1.193 | 54 | | 5 | Isack Hadjar* | Red Bull | +2.288 | 87 |
| 6 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | +2.397 | 67 | | 7 | Pierre Gasly* | Alpine | +2.450 | 97 |
| 8 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | +2.551 | 67 | | 9 | Alex Albon | Williams | +2.956 | 62 |
| 10 | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | +2.993 | 47 | | 11 | Arvid Lindblad* | Racing Bulls | +3.197 | 83 |
| 12 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | +3.319 | 69 | | 13 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | +3.744 | 50 |
| 14 | Fernando Alonso* | Aston Martin | +3.975 | 98 | | 15 | Sergio Perez | Cadillac | +4.380 | 42 |
| 16 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | No time | 3 |
*Drove in both sessions
What’s Next
Friday marks the final day of this first three-day test in Bahrain, with Lewis Hamilton set to get behind the wheel of the SF-26 for Ferrari. After that, teams will reset and return to the same circuit for another round of testing from February 18-20.
Then, it’s go time: the 2026 Formula 1 season officially kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8.
For now, Ferrari and McLaren are looking locked in. Mercedes and Red Bull? They’ve got some homework to do before the lights go out in Melbourne.