Kimi Antonelli Tops Day 2 of Second Bahrain Pre-Season Test

Mercedes junior driver Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time on the second day of F1's second pre-season test in Bahrain, continuing the team's strong showing this week. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull) followed closely, while Fernando Alonso's day was cut short by a mechanical failure for Aston Martin.

Why it matters:

Pre-season testing times are rarely a definitive indicator of true performance, but they offer crucial early insights into car reliability, driver adaptation, and potential pecking order trends. A rookie topping the timesheets in a top car generates significant buzz, while mileage and any mechanical issues are key data points for teams ahead of the season opener.

The details:

• Mercedes on top: Kimi Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, posted a 1:32.803 to lead the day, marking the second consecutive test day this week that a Mercedes-powered car has finished fastest.
• McLaren's strong pace: Oscar Piastri was second quickest for McLaren after taking over from Lando Norris in the afternoon session. Norris's earlier time was good enough for fifth overall, suggesting a solid baseline for the Woking-based team.
• Red Bull's marathon: Max Verstappen finished third fastest but completed a mammoth 137 laps, the highest tally of the day, focusing on long-run data gathering and reliability checks.
• Aston Martin's setback: Fernando Alonso managed only 68 laps before stopping on track with a mechanical issue, interrupting the team's testing program and highlighting the importance of trouble-free running during the limited track time.
• Productive mileage: Beyond the headline times, most teams accumulated significant mileage, with Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) also completing well over a century of laps each.

What's next:

The final day of pre-season testing takes place tomorrow, offering teams one last chance to refine their cars and strategies before the competitive action begins. All eyes will be on whether the early trends solidify, if any team shows a dramatic late improvement, and how teams manage their programs with an eye on the first race of the 2026 season in just over a week's time.