Leclerc Tops Day 2 of F1 Testing as Mercedes and Red Bull Face Issues

Charles Leclerc set the fastest time on the second day of Formula 1's 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain, while Lando Norris completed the most laps. The session was marked by reliability issues for Mercedes and Red Bull, alongside multiple red flag stoppages.

Why it matters:

Pre-season testing offers the first real glimpse of the competitive order, and Ferrari's pace combined with setbacks for two top teams immediately fuels speculation for the upcoming season. While lap times are not definitive, patterns of reliability and performance begin to emerge, setting the narrative for the weeks leading up to the first race.

The details:

• Leclerc leads the way: The Ferrari driver posted a 1m34.273s on soft tires during the morning session, a time that remained unbeaten for the rest of the day.
• Norris racks up mileage: World Champion Lando Norris (McLaren) was second fastest but focused on long runs, completing a field-high 149 laps.
• Top teams hit trouble: Mercedes and Red Bull both suffered significant setbacks.
  • Mercedes managed only three laps with Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the morning due to a power unit issue. George Russell recovered in the afternoon to finish fourth.
  • Red Bull's Isack Hadjar completed just one installation lap in the morning after a hydraulic leak on the RB22.
• Red flags disrupt running: The afternoon session saw three stoppages.
  • The first was caused by a mirror flying off Valtteri Bottas's Cadillac.
  • Pierre Gasly's Alpine then stopped at Turn 1, marking the third red flag caused by the team since testing began.
  • A final flag was shown to test procedures.
• Haas shows promise: Oliver Bearman impressed for Haas, setting the third-fastest time and completing 130 laps.

What's next:

Teams will analyze the data from the first two days before the final day of testing. The focus will remain on reliability checks and long-run performance over single-lap pace. For Mercedes and Red Bull, the priority will be diagnosing and resolving their technical gremlins to ensure they are ready for the season opener. The final timesheets on Friday may offer a slightly clearer, though still incomplete, picture of the pecking order.