Lando Norris leads opening day of 2026 F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain

Lando Norris set the fastest time for McLaren on the opening day of Formula 1's first pre-season test in Bahrain, but the headline lap was overshadowed by Max Verstappen's staggering 136-lap haul for Red Bull. The session highlighted early reliability dramas and data-gathering priorities as teams began their final preparations for the new campaign.

Why it matters:

Pre-season testing offers the first true, comparative glimpse of each team's performance and reliability ahead of the new season. While lap times are often deceptive due to varying fuel loads and run plans, the sheer mileage completed—or not completed—provides critical early data on a car's durability and operational smoothness, setting initial narratives before the competitive action begins.

The details:

• McLaren's Promise: Norris's P1 time for McLaren provided an encouraging start for the Woking-based squad, which is looking to build on its strong 2025 season.
• Red Bull's Endurance: Defending champion Max Verstappen's 136 laps for Red Bull—equivalent to over two race distances—was the standout statistic of the day, signaling strong initial reliability for the RB22.
• Struggles for Others: In stark contrast, Aston Martin managed fewer than 40 laps, indicating potential early teething problems. Racing Bulls also lost significant track time due to an engine leak from its Red Bull Powertrains unit.
• Challenging Conditions: Teams faced the intense heat of Bahrain, creating vastly different track conditions compared to the cooler, official shakedown held in Barcelona last month, which tests car cooling and tire performance.

What's next:

The second day of the three-day test presents another crucial eight-hour opportunity for teams to rectify issues and continue their programs.

• Focus will shift to long-run performance and race simulations, offering a clearer picture of genuine pace.
• Teams like Aston Martin and Racing Bulls will be desperate to maximize mileage and recover lost data from Day 1's setbacks.
• Live timing, unavailable during the Barcelona shakedown, will continue to provide fans and analysts with real-time insights throughout the week as the final pieces of the 2026 puzzle fall into place.