2026 F1 pre-season testing results: Leclerc fastest as Bearman stars in third
12 February 2026The second day of running at the Bahrain International Circuit offered another productive glimpse into Formula 1’s new era, as 2026 F1 pre-season testing continued in Sakhir.
On Day 2, it was Charles Leclerc who set the pace, the Ferrari driver topping the timesheets ahead of Lando Norris and Ollie Bearman after a full day of running under Bahrain’s changing conditions.
Leclerc laid down his best lap during Thursday morning’s session, posting a 1:34.273 in hot conditions. That time remained unbeaten throughout the afternoon and evening running as the sun set and the floodlights illuminated the circuit.
2026 F1 pre-season testing results
Pos | Driver | Team | Time |
1 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:34.273 |
2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:34.784 |
3 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:35.394 |
4 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:35.466 |
5 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | 1:36.561 |
6 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | 1:36.670 |
7 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:36.723 |
8 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | 1:36.824 |
9 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 1:37.229 |
10 | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | 1:37.266 |
11 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 1:37.470 |
12 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:37.592 |
13 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:38.017 |
14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:38.248 |
15 | Sergio Perez | Cadillac | 1:38.653 |
16 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | - |
17 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | - |
18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | - |
19 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | - |
20 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | - |
21 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | - |
22 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | - |
Ferrari strikes back as mileage mounts
Leclerc’s benchmark lap ensured Ferrari ended Thursday on top, with the Monegasque completing more than 100 laps across both sessions. Norris, who also spent the entire day at the wheel for McLaren, finished just over half a second adrift in second, despite suffering a brief stoppage during the morning session.
Bearman continued Haas’ encouraging start to testing, placing third overall and also surpassing the 100-lap mark as the American team focused on long-run consistency and data gathering.
Mixed fortunes across the field
Mercedes opted to split Thursday’s running, but the plan was disrupted early on when Kimi Antonelli was delayed by a power unit issue in the morning. George Russell took over for the afternoon and climbed to fourth overall, while Antonelli ended the day classified 16th after completing just three laps.
Newly promoted Isack Hadjar also encountered early technical issues for Red Bull, though his afternoon programme ran more smoothly, allowing him to round out the top five.
Midfield moments and interruptions
Audi continued preparations for their debut Formula 1 season, with Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg finishing sixth and 10th, respectively. They were separated by Pierre Gasly, who endured a morning stoppage for Alpine, Valtteri Bottas, who lost part of his mirror in the afternoon for Cadillac, and Alex Albon, who once again logged valuable mileage for Williams.
Further back, Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson both completed solid days for Racing Bulls, while Carlos Sainz continued his adaptation to the Williams in 12th.
