F1 news: Max Verstappen tops opening morning of first 2026 Bahrain pre-season test
Max Verstappen set the pace on the opening morning of Formula 1’s first 2026 pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit on Wednesday, February 11.
The Red Bull driver finished first on the timesheets during the four-hour morning session, giving his team an early benchmark as all 11 teams shared the track for the first time this week.
Testing at Sakhir runs from February 11 to 13, with each day split into morning and afternoon sessions.
The first session of the year began at 10am local time, with teams using the opportunity to get basic running in and gather data on their new cars ahead of the 2026 season opener in Australia.
Verstappen’s best lap of 1:35.433s came in the middle of the session as teams juggled tyre compounds and run plans. The four-time World Champion’s time ultimately placed him at the top of the order when the chequered flag fell for the morning.
Behind Verstappen, several other drivers put in solid work. Oscar Piastri was second fastest, with Mercedes’ George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton also posting competitive times in the top four.
The morning session was busy, with almost every team recording well over 50 laps on their programmes.
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Busy morning with plenty of running
Williams and Racing Bulls other teams were among the busiest on track, with Carlos Sainz and Arvid Lindblad exceeding 70 laps before lunch.
The number of laps completed in just the opening four hours highlighted how important it is for teams to complete as much mileage as possible at this stage of preparations.
Testing is primarily about data gathering at this point, so lap times are only one part of the story. Teams will use the information from tyre behaviour, fuel loads, and aerodynamic balance to adjust their cars for the rest of the week.
Still, topping the times in the first session will be a positive sign for Red Bull as they aim to continue their strong performance into the new season.
The afternoon session is scheduled to continue after a break, giving teams more time to test race runs and longer stints.
With two more days of track action this week ahead, the action in Bahrain will only intensify as the start of the 2026 F1 season draws closer.
