Verstappen Sits Out Wednesday's Bahrain Test as Teams Finalize Schedules

Max Verstappen will be the only driver absent from the track during Wednesday's crucial pre-season test session in Bahrain, with Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar taking over the RB22 for the entire day. The final three-day test is the last major opportunity for teams to gather data and refine their 2026 cars before the season opener in Australia on March 8.

Why it matters:

Pre-season testing is a critical, limited window for teams to understand their new cars and for drivers to build confidence. Verstappen's absence from a full day of running, while planned, represents lost track time for the reigning champion and a significant opportunity for his rookie teammate Hadjar to gain valuable Formula 1 mileage ahead of a potential race seat.

The details:

• Red Bull's Plan: Isack Hadjar will drive the sole Red Bull car for both the morning and afternoon sessions on Wednesday, giving the team a full day to evaluate the French rookie.
• Driver Lineup Highlights: The day features a mix of established stars and promising newcomers across the grid.
  • McLaren starts with Lando Norris before handing over to Oscar Piastri.
  • Mercedes begins with highly-touted rookie Kimi Antonelli, with George Russell taking over later.
  • Ferrari's Charles Leclerc will drive in the morning, with the team's new signing, Lewis Hamilton, scheduled for the afternoon run.
• Full Wednesday Schedule:
  • McLaren: Norris → Piastri
  • Mercedes: Antonelli → Russell
  • Ferrari: Leclerc → Hamilton
  • Red Bull: Hadjar (all day)
  • Williams: Albon → Sainz
  • Aston Martin: Alonso → Stroll
  • Audi: Hulkenberg → Bortoleto
  • Racing Bulls: Lindblad → Lawson
  • Haas: Ocon → Bearman
  • Alpine: Gasly → Colapinto
  • Cadillac: Perez → Bottas

What's next:

Teams will analyze the data from Wednesday before completing the test on Thursday and Friday. Ferrari is the only team yet to fully disclose its driver schedule for the remaining two days, adding an element of strategy to the final preparations. All focus then shifts to Melbourne for the first race of the new era of technical regulations.