Formula 1 teams wrapped up the third and final day of the inaugural 2026 pre-season test at Bahrain International Circuit, focusing on car setups and power units amid high lap counts. Mercedes topped the timesheets overall, though teams emphasized ongoing development needs ahead of the next test and the season opener in Australia on March 6-8. Several squads reported progress, while others highlighted challenges in reliability and performance.
The Bahrain test concluded on Friday with teams accumulating significant mileage to evaluate their new 2026 machinery. Aston Martin faced continued difficulties, as Lance Stroll managed 72 laps on the final day, contributing to a total of 202 laps for the team. Team representative Pedro de la Rosa stated they are "behind schedule" and not where they want to be, while trackside chief Mike Krack noted, "We are realistic in knowing that there is a lot of performance still to unlock in this package."
Ferrari showed strength, with Lewis Hamilton completing 150 laps. He ran on C3 Pirelli tyres in the morning to compare configurations and assess tyre behaviour, switching to C1 and C2 in the afternoon. Hamilton commented, "The SF-26 has felt generally good, but this generation of car is quite complex and finding the right operating window, especially with the tyres, is key. We’ve made some good discoveries and also identified areas where we can improve." The team plans a major upgrade for the upcoming Bahrain test.
Mercedes improved after earlier issues, with George Russell running a race distance in the morning and focusing on single-lap and high-fuel simulations. Kimi Antonelli doubled his previous laps combined, setting the day's fastest time but falling short of a full race simulation. Andrew Shovlin admitted they spent "far longer in the garage than we would have liked," noting challenges in Bahrain's warmth compared to Barcelona. Russell acknowledged, "work to do" to catch competitors. Overall, Mercedes recorded the fastest time across the three days.
Red Bull impressed rivals with their new powertrain, completing 120 laps on Friday. Technical Director Pierre Wache described it as a "positive week," praising the unit's reliability despite starting development three-and-a-half years ago. However, he added, "there were a few teams which were clearly very quick today and it looks like we are behind, so there is still a lot to improve. Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari are there at the top." Verstappen and Isack Hadjar found promising setup directions, though balance needs refinement.
Other teams reported mixed results: McLaren noted work needed for performance, Ferrari said everything went well, and Aston Martin described their package as fresh, requiring time to understand. Racing Bulls' principal called testing "gone swimmingly" after a tricky start, while rookies like Arvid Lindblad focused on learning the car.
