Lando Norris Leads Day One of F1 Bahrain Testing; Verstappen’s Red Bull Impresses

Lando Norris achieved the fastest time for McLaren on the opening day of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain. However, it was Max Verstappen’s performance with Red Bull that stood out among spectators and teams alike. The three-day test at the Bahrain International Circuit is part of an extensive schedule that aims to prepare teams for new regulations set to debut in the 2026 season.

Day One Highlights: Norris and Verstappen Shine

Red Bull has entered a pivotal phase in its development, manufacturing its own engine for the first time since its debut in 2005. After a promising performance at the Barcelona shakedown, Red Bull continued to impress in Bahrain. Verstappen topped the timesheet for most of the day, completing an impressive 136 laps and showcasing lengthy stints in both four-hour sessions.

With just over an hour remaining, Norris managed to surpass Verstappen’s time, finishing the day with a lap of 1:34.669, 0.129 seconds faster than the reigning world champion.

Performance at the Bahrain Circuit

As the teams are not fully pushing their limits during early testing, lap times should be interpreted cautiously. Many consider that teams may be concealing their true performance until qualifying for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 8.

• Norris (McLaren): Fastest lap at 1:34.669.
• Verstappen (Red Bull): Completed 136 laps.
• Leclerc (Ferrari): Finished third, half a second slower than Norris.
• Mercedes (George Russell): Finished sixth, 1.5 seconds off the pace.

Challenges Faced by Teams

Mercedes had a challenging day, with Kimi Antonelli spending a significant portion of the afternoon session in the garage. He eventually returned to the track, completing 30 laps. Moreover, Lewis Hamilton experienced a spin, illustrating the tricky conditions of the circuit, similar to “Monza downforce.”

There were two red flags during the day: one caused by Franco Colapinto from Alpine and the other by Nico Hulkenberg from Audi. Fortunately, both incidents were resolved quickly, allowing the testing to continue without lengthy interruptions.

Industry Reactions to Performance

Toto Wolff, team principal at Mercedes, acknowledged Red Bull as the early benchmark in Bahrain, commenting on their powerful performance and efficient energy deployment. McLaren’s Zak Brown expressed a similar sentiment, emphasizing the need for further assessments as the testing progresses.

With more testing days scheduled, including a subsequent session next week in Bahrain, teams are keen to continue refining their strategies and performance ahead of the first race of the new season.