Lando Norris Leads Verstappen, Leclerc in Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Opener
Lando Norris emerged as the fastest driver during the opening day of pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit. On Wednesday, Norris clocked a time of 1m 34.669s, leading from renowned competitors Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.
Norris Tops the Timesheets
Norris, who replaced McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri for the afternoon session, showcased impressive speed as the day progressed into night. Verstappen, who led the morning session, finished second overall in his Red Bull, just 0.129 seconds behind Norris. Leclerc secured third place, half a second off Norris’ time, indicating a competitive start to the season.
Drivers’ Performance Overview
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1m 34.669s
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 0.129s behind
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 0.5s behind
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) – Fourth place
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – Fifth place
- George Russell (Mercedes) – Sixth place
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – Started for Ferrari
Additional notable performances included Nico Hulkenberg, who briefly halted practice due to a red flag after his Audi stopped. He returned to action shortly after. Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon completed the top ten for Alpine and Williams, respectively. This was significant for Williams as they had previously missed the Barcelona Shakedown due to preparation delays.
Mileage Achievements
Max Verstappen distinguished himself by completing over 130 laps, making him one of four drivers to remain on track for the entire day. Ocon also reached the 100-lap benchmark, showcasing their teams’ dedication to testing.
Upcoming Test Sessions
Teams will reconvene in the Sakhir paddock to analyze performance data. Four drivers — Isack Hadjar, Fernando Alonso, Ollie Bearman, and Liam Lawson — are slated to participate in upcoming testing sessions, increasing the anticipation for the 2026 campaign.
This early pre-season activity signals an intense competition ahead among the drivers and teams as they adapt to new cars featuring redesigned aerodynamics and improved power units.
