Charles Leclerc Leads Day Two as Lando Norris Logs Most Laps
Day two of Formula 1’s 2026 pre-season testing in Bahrain showcased thrilling performances from multiple drivers, highlighting both speed and endurance.
Charles Leclerc Dominates Day Two
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari secured the fastest time of the day, clocking in at 1:34.273 during the morning session. His impressive lap time was set on soft tires, making him 0.511 seconds quicker than the fastest time from McLaren’s Lando Norris, who had recorded a noteworthy lap earlier on day one.
Event Highlights
Despite Leclerc’s speed, Lando Norris managed to complete the most laps overall, amassing 149 miles around the Bahrain International Circuit. The second day of testing also encountered challenges, including three separate red flag incidents that disrupted the afternoon’s running.
- Valtteri Bottas
- Pierre Gasly
- Final Red Flag
: Lost a section of his Cadillac mirror momentarily halting the session.
: Stopped at Turn 1, resulting in another short stoppage.
: Conducted merely as a procedural test towards the end of the session.
Team Performances and Updates
Mercedes had a challenging day, with their driver, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, managing just three laps due to power unit issues in the morning. However, he rebounded in the afternoon, finishing fourth overall after completing 54 laps and posting a time of 1:35.466.
Isack Hadjar from Red Bull Racing faced his own challenges, initially suffering from a hydraulic leak that restricted him to a single lap. He later bounced back, securing fifth with a time of 1:36.561.
Lap Comparison
| Driver | Team | Lap Time | Laps Completed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:34.273 | 139 |
| Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:34.784 | 149 |
| Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:35.394 | 130 |
| George Russell | Mercedes | 1:35.466 | 54 |
| Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | 1:36.561 | 87 |
Mileage Statistics
The mileage leaderboard from day two revealed the following:
- Lando Norris: 149 laps
- Charles Leclerc: 139 laps
- Oliver Bearman: 130 laps
- Fernando Alonso: 98 laps
- Pierre Gasly: 97 laps
Overall, McLaren led the pack in terms of total laps completed, while Ferrari followed closely. Pre-season testing continues to be a time for teams to assess their strategies and performance as they prepare for the upcoming season.
