Leclerc Leads Opening Morning of Bahrain Pre-Season Test as F1 Teams Ramp Up Preparations

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Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc set the early pace on the first morning of the final pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit, showing strong potential from the outset as the 2026 Formula 1 season draws closer. Leclerc’s time at the top of the timesheets underlines Ferrari’s early competitiveness in testing, with rivals closely matched behind him.

Leclerc clocked a fastest lap of 1 minute 33.739 seconds in the morning session, leading a tightly packed top three. Lando Norris was second fastest for McLaren, finishing roughly three tenths behind, while Kimi Antonelli put in a notable performance for Mercedes to secure third place.

he session was not about outright performance but rather about gathering valuable data. Teams used the morning to evaluate systems, tyre behaviour and balance as they continue to adapt to the sweeping technical rule changes in 2026. High mileage and steady runs were priorities, with drivers and engineers working to understand how the new cars react in different phases of running.

Reliability was a key theme, as Ferrari’s strong showing came with a clean run and more laps completed than many rivals, indicating a solid baseline of stability. Meanwhile, Red Bull encountered some technical issues that limited their early mileage, with their car logging fewer kilometres than planned. Other teams experienced minor setbacks or focused on long-run programmes rather than matching Ferrari’s pace.

Williams made progress with solid running from both drivers, and Alpine and Haas also delivered steady programmes throughout the session. The focus in Bahrain remains on gathering data and refining setups, with lap times only an initial indication rather than a full picture of competitive order.

With several days of testing still to come, teams will use today’s result as a benchmark as they adjust tyre compounds, suspension settings and power unit parameters ahead of the season opener in March. Ferrari’s early pace may signal strong performance potential, but as the test continues, the true competitive hierarchy will become clearer.