presented by
2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1931 1930 1929 1927 1925 1923 1922 1921 1914 1913 1912
Australian GP Chinese GP Japanese GP Saudi Arabian GP Miami GP Canadian GP Monaco GP Barcelona-Catalunya GP Austrian GP British GP Belgian GP Hungarian GP Dutch GP Italian GP
Spanish GP
Azerbaijan GP
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Singapore GP United States GP Mexican GP
Sao Paulo GP
Las Vegas GP Qatar GP
Abu Dhabi GP
2026 Formula 1 Bahrain Pre-Season 2
Feb 18, 2026 to Feb 20, 2026
| Bahrain International Circuit, BH
Overview Live Commentary Results News
Live text
Formula 1 Bahrain Pre-Season 2
F1 Bahrain pre-season testing live commentary and updates - day 4
Follow along for updates on the first day of F1's second 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain
Live
Chat
Live Standings
presented by
Summary
View full leaderboard Hide full leaderboard
Live Text
Sort by Oldest first Newest first
12:23:12 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
And with that, we shall leave it there! So thanks for following along and we shall see you tomorrow.
12:21:56 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Russell on top
As you can see, not only did George set the fastest lap on Wednesday, but he also completed the most mileage with 76 tours of the Bahrain track.
George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
12:20:38 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Here is a full breakdown from today with Max Verstappen being the only driver not to feature:
POS DRIVER CAR / ENGINE TIME GAP LAPS 1 George Russell Mercedes 1m33.459s 76 2 Oscar Piastri McLaren / Mercedes 1m33.469s 0.010s 70 3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1m33.739s 0.280s 70 4 Lando Norris McLaren / Mercedes 1m34.052s 0.593s 54 5 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1m34.158s 0.699s 69 6 Isack Hadjar Red Bull / Red Bull Ford 1m34.260s 0.801s 66 7 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1m34.299s 0.840s 44 8 Carlos Sainz Williams / Mercedes 1m35.113s 1.654s 55 9 Franco Colapinto Alpine / Mercedes 1m35.254s 1.795s 60 10 Gabriel Bortoleto Audi 1m35.263s 1.804s 71 11 Alexander Albon Williams / Mercedes 1m35.690s 2.231s 55 12 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls / Red Bull Ford 1m35.753s 2.294s 61 13 Oliver Bearman Haas / Ferrari 1m35.778s 2.319s 42 14 Pierre Gasly Alpine / Mercedes 1m35.898s 2.439s 61 15 Lance Stroll Aston Martin / Honda 1m35.974s 2.515s 26 16 Esteban Ocon Haas / Ferrari 1m36.418s 2.959s 65 17 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin / Honda 1m36.536s 3.077s 28 18 Nico Hulkenberg Audi 1m36.741s 3.282s 49 19 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls / Red Bull Ford 1m36.769s 3.310s 75 20 Valtteri Bottas Cadillac / Ferrari 1m36.798s 3.339s 35 21 Sergio Perez Cadillac / Ferrari 1m38.191s 4.732s 24
12:08:45 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Read Also:
Checkered flag
12:04:05 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
And that's that. Day four of Bahrain testing has ended with Russell going fastest, 0.010s quicker than Piastri with Leclerc in third.
The gap between the top four and the midfield seems big.
George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
12:02:59 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Nah in all seriousness, it seemed like a relatively smooth practice start - though obviously total different when the pressure isn't on and drivers aren't going at full speed.
12:02:21 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
It's a brilliant start from Piastri, but a slow getaway from Lawson who drops into third behind Sainz.
12:01:22 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Drivers are lining up into their grid boxes for race start and we are now go, go, go!
11:59:54 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
The atmosphere is tense, fans are on the edge of their seats, awaiting the start of this Bahrain GP with the formation lap underway. Piastri is on pole, but can he hold off the Racing Bulls of Lawson into T1?
11:56:38 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
With these system checks happening, let me once again refer you to an earlier article about race start procedures...
Read Also:
11:55:20 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
'aerobalance' asking about brakes on these 2026 cars. The front is hydraulic while the rear is brake-by-wire.
Red flag
11:52:10 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Let the system checks begin...
11:46:58 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Testing 1, 2, 3
There's 14 minutes left on the clock, but this is pretty much the final four minutes of running as there'll be various system checks in the last 10.
This includes starting off with a VSC ahead of a red flag before two formation laps follow, in which cars will then line up on the grid for a simulated race start.
Once all cars are in position, a new Pre-Start Warning will begin: all grid panels will flash blue for five seconds. After the blue warning ends, the usual start sequence will begin.
11:42:06 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
As we now approach the final 20 minutes, Lindblad still has the highest lap count having done 75 tours of the Bahrain circuit this morning.
But Russell is closing in with 68 laps this afternoon, while Piastri is just another two behind.
11:39:28 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
A common sight in F1 testing is the fluorescent paint on cars, which often confuses new fans. This is done to physically map the aerodynamic airflow, giving teams data for their analysis later.
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Stopwatch
11:34:51 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Earlier we said it looks as though nobody is threatening Piastri's fastest lap - but how wrong I was! Russell takes top spot with a 1m33.459s, 0.010s quicker than the McLaren.
George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
11:26:12 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
And he is back out. The world champion is on 26 laps, which is far from this afternoon's highest total of 60 by Bortoleto.
11:18:59 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Going back to Hamilton, it looks as though he's getting ready to return to the track...
11:16:36 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
With 45 minutes remaining, there's still nobody threatening that fastest lap from Piastri as drivers are more in their longruns now.
This includes Bottas and Hadjar, who are largely playing catch-up at this stage as various issues have limited running for both.
11:09:19 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
He might not be on track, but Hamilton is still much more upbeat at the moment than he was during a very disappointing 2025 at Ferrari.
"I spent a lot of time rebuilding over this winter, refocusing, really getting my body and my mind to a much better place," he said.
"Honestly, I generally feel in the best place that I've been in a long, long time with rearranging things within my team.
"And then with the car, I think we started off quite well so far. So, and it's just, it's an exciting time with this new generation of car as well, because it's all brand new. We're all trying to figure it out on the go.
"And last year we were locked into a car that ultimately I inherited. This is a car that I've been able to be a part of developing on the simulator for the last, you know, 10 months, eight months. And so like a bit of my DNA is within it.
"So I'm more connected to this one for sure."
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
11:03:33 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
It's all quiet down at Ferrari. The mechanics are understood to have been working on the rear of the SF-26 for the past hour or so.
10:48:44 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
'Demi' asking about prototype tyres. Basically, it depends on what Pirelli is testing so it could be closer to a soft on one occasion, but then a hard on another.
10:42:38 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
To say it's testing, we've not been shy on wheel-to-wheel battles today. Sainz-Piastri were the latest to engage in one with the McLaren overtaking the Williams down the pit straight.
10:39:16 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Woops! Colapinto went deep at Turn 1 after a big lock-up with Sainz right behind him.
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
10:37:23 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Let's have another look at lap counts for this afternoon
Piastri - 39
Russell - 45
Hamilton - 24
Hadjar - 23
Sainz - 30
Colapinto - 31
Lawson - 39
Bortoleto - 39
Bearman - 25
Stroll - 7
Bottas - 16
Breaking news
10:31:17 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
The FIA will run tests at the end of each day’s running at Sakhir after teams and drivers expressed concern about the start sequence.
Read Also:
10:30:14 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
As ever, please do continue to submit your questions as we approach the final 90 minutes of this session...anything you want from the world of F1!
10:25:20 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
It's not been a great day so far for Cadillac. It only completed 24 laps this morning with Perez as various sensor issues limited his running.
This afternoon, Bottas has only done 11 tours and wasn't seen on track until the second half of the session. We're still trying to find out why Bottas' running has been so limited.
Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Photo by: Kym Illman / Getty Images
10:22:33 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Hopes on an eighth back on?
10:15:24 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Back to the track and it's still not massively busy with only Piastri, Russell, Sainz and Bortoleto in their cars. Doesn't look like any are threatening Piastri's benchmark for now.
10:11:58 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
May I refer you to yesterday's article, where Alpine managing director Steve Nielsen, whose team is a Mercedes customer, revealed his worries for what kind of precedent this backlash sets.
“If we're saying that a very clear set of regulations, written set of regulations can be challenged in this way, then what else is off limits?
“Everything's up for discussion then. If a certain set of teams don't like something that's very clearly written, if suddenly you can have a lobby group and change it, then you're in a whole different world.
“People invest an awful lot of time and money, and particularly money into this, in good faith, and if suddenly we're going into a world where everything can be challenged, even though it's clearly written for any reasons other than safety reasons, then I think that's a whole new world, which we've not been in before.
“So I think the compression ratio discussion is one thing, but I think it's very clear. You could say I'm biased because we've got a Mercedes engine in our car, but that's honestly what I believe.
“But I think the more fundamental question is, do we really want a sport where clearly written stuff can just be challenged because people fancy doing it? I think that's for the FIA to answer…”
Steve Nielsen, Managing Director at Alpine F1
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
10:09:23 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
So what are your thoughts on that? Harsh on Mercedes or should zero loopholes be allowed in the regulations?
It comes after the compression ratio was reduced from 18:1 to 16:1, but according to Article C.5.4.3, a static test at ambient temperature is the only method of measuring the ratio.
So Mercedes had found a way to increase its compression ratio while the engine is running, before having it at 16:1 once at ambient temp.
Quote
10:04:00 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
More on the breaking news from earlier, as the FIA has released a statement:
"Over recent weeks and months, the FIA and the Power Unit Manufacturers have collaboratively developed a methodology to quantify how the compression ratio changes from ambient to operating conditions. Following validation of this approach, a proposal has been submitted whereby, from 1 August 2026, compliance with the compression ratio limit must be demonstrated not only at ambient conditions, but also at a representative operating temperature of 130C.
"The vote has been submitted to the Power Unit Manufacturers, and its outcome is expected within the next 10 days and will be communicated in due course. As with all Formula 1 regulatory changes, any amendment remains subject to final approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council."
Read Also:
Stopwatch
09:58:02 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Finally, we have a new fastest lap and it goes to Piastri after setting a 1m33.469s on the medium rubber. That was 0.270s quicker than Leclerc from this morning.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photo by: Sona Maleterova / Getty Images
Breaking news
09:53:08 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Formula 1's five power unit manufacturers are set to vote for a proposed tweak to how engine compression ratios are measured, which could come into force over the summer break.
Full story to follow
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photo by: Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
09:44:12 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
On track, it's a rather quiet session at the moment with only Hamilton and Bortoleto currently running. Hamilton is using prototype tyres with mediums for the Audi.
09:37:43 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
As we all know by now, Verstappen caused a huge stir last week when he labelled the new F1 regs as "anti-racing" and like "Formula E on steroids". He then doubled down on those comments in today's press conference, before his boss Laurent Mekies was asked about the matter during the team principal session.
Read Also:
09:32:32 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Stroll's car has now returned to his garage, so Aston Martin can get to work on discovering yet another problem with its AMR26...
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
09:30:16 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Our man Jake Boxall-Legge even offered a vague prediction of the 2026 pecking order at the end of last week's testing.
Read Also:
09:27:53 am
Copy link
Share on Viber
Sainz has just set his best laptime with a 1m35.378s, which is good enough for seventh. The problem? Not only is it 1.639s off leader Leclerc, but it's close to a second behind Russell in sixth.
The gap between the front runners and midfield looks to have increased this year, Esteban Ocon previously claiming they're "seconds away".
Pagination
1
2
3
...
4
By: Autosport Staff
Published: Feb 18, 2026, 4:23 PM
Lap:
Copy link
Share on Viber