Given the standard fog of conflict shrouding pre-season testing, the fast charge of growth of 2026’s all-new laws and the uncertainty surrounding the wildly fluctuating power necessities of the brand new energy unit, arising with a definitive rating earlier than the primary race is a harmful endeavour. However after six days a lot of clear traits have emerged from Bahrain’s desert mirage, and a few F1 groups have already run out of room to cover.
McLaren – 817 laps
What they did
The reigning world champion felt prefer it got here to Bahrain barely behind the place it wished to be by way of understanding easy methods to optimise the brand new energy unit, however it definitely wasn’t alone in that regard.
As a take a look at, its days within the desert went nicely, with loads of mileage and few main reliability considerations. But it surely additionally quickly found that Mercedes and an revolutionary Ferrari seem like a small step forward at this cut-off date.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photograph by: Alastair Staley / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
Bahrain has not at all been a nasty take a look at for McLaren, however the double world champions may have their work lower out to make it a triple. Its MCL40 in Australia is predicted to be largely the identical spec as its take a look at automotive in Bahrain, so it’s beginning the marketing campaign from a place of humility.
What they stated
Andrea Stella, workforce principal: “When it comes to understanding the aggressive order I’d say that this take a look at has confirmed that Ferrari and Mercedes appear like the groups to beat. I feel McLaren shouldn’t be far. I feel it is good to see that we’re a part of the highest 4 group however I feel these two groups appear to have proven a bit little bit of a bonus.”
Mercedes – 741 laps
What they did
If Mercedes appeared just like the pre-season favorite earlier than coming to Bahrain, then it did little to dispel that notion over the previous fortnight. Thoughts you, Bahrain definitely wasn’t an ideal take a look at for the Silver Arrows. The W17 wasn’t as bulletproof because it first appeared in Barcelona and demonstrated a couple of chinks in its armour, with a pneumatic leak on the ultimate day requiring a full energy unit change and additional limiting Kimi Antonelli’s mileage, with the Italian having already been on the again foot because of first week teething points.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Photograph by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
However as they all the time say, it is simpler to make a quick automotive dependable than a dependable automotive fast, and on tempo Mercedes has nonetheless appeared just like the workforce to beat in Bahrain regardless of its greatest efforts to focus consideration on Purple Bull. Mercedes has been accused by rivals of taking part in the same old sport of smoke and mirrors earlier than dialing up its energy items in Melbourne. In two weeks from now we’ll know if Purple Bull was proper.
What they stated
Andrew Shovlin, trackside engineering director: “Sadly, our remaining day of pre-season testing wasn’t an ideal one. We suffered a problem on the ability unit facet which curtailed Kimi’s working at 49 laps. Regardless of that although, we did a great job of getting the automotive out comparatively early within the afternoon and total, we had been in a position to full a whole lot of helpful work with each drivers. We saved the concentrate on set-up gadgets and long term consistency at the moment, which allowed us to cowl fairly a little bit of floor.
“The aggressive image nonetheless is not actually clear, however we all know that we’ve got loads of work forward as we finalise our preparations for Melbourne. We have put collectively a stable basis to construct from, are wanting ahead to the problem forward, and excited to see how the W17 performs when racing.”
Purple Bull – 672 laps
What they did
Purple Bull has defied expectations with its brand-new energy unit, the primary one made in-house at Milton Keynes. Its former companion Honda’s woes with Aston Martin additional underline simply how spectacular an achievement that has been.
Basically the RB22 appears in good condition too, however on lengthy runs each Mercedes and Ferrari appeared to have the sting. It seems to be in the identical ballpark of McLaren, which appeared maybe barely extra spectacular on lengthy runs in the direction of the tip of the take a look at. However that slight edge falls solely inside the margin of error of pre-season testing.
Isack Hadjar, Purple Bull Racing
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
On the finish of the day, there was an actual concern that Purple Bull’s audacious energy unit gamble would neutralise any title risk posed by Max Verstappen in 2026. There’s robust proof that will not be the case. And we noticed final yr what might (virtually) occur for those who go away the door ajar for the feisty Dutchman.
What they stated
Laurent Mekies, workforce principal: “On the ability unit facet, we will not overlook that three years in the past the place our manufacturing unit was, there was only a discipline. We’re very happy with them. Does it put us ready that we might be glad with? No, as a result of we very nicely know the scale of the competitors. We simply had an excellent begin, however we all know we’re going to run into a lot of uncomfortable moments. So it is a part of the sport, however we’re glad to be in it. The efficiency proven by the highest guys is stratospheric and it’ll be an enormous growth race each on the chassis and PU facet, however it’s what all of us love.”
Ferrari – 745 laps
What they did
Watching the Ferrari SF-26 pound laps shortly, and fairly reliably, will need to have been a sight for sore Italian eyes again house. Ferrari shocked a few of its rivals with a lot of intelligent aerodynamic improvements, together with an exhaust wing and a totally rotating rear wing mainplane. Improvements which are visibly hanging on TV are likely to trigger a stir that’s typically disproportionate to their precise web profit. So, whether or not these take a look at gadgets actually make such a distinction stays to be seen.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photos by way of Getty Photos
But it surely exhibits that Ferrari has been aggressive in the way it has attacked the 2026 ruleset with some intelligent out of the field considering, which is a optimistic signal from a workforce that regressed beneath the earlier laws. Leclerc additionally set the quickest time of the take a look at by 9 tenths, although on softer tyres than the competitors and with uncertainty over gas masses making {that a} idiot’s errand to dissect.
Any tifosi studying this can know it is the hope that kills you. However on the bottom it was onerous to not discover the spring the scarlet clad squadron had in its collective step. Charles Leclerc particularly has by no means had a very good poker face when he was dissatisfied with the automotive he unboxed over the previous few seasons. There’s none of that poorly disguised gloom this time. Rocket begins with the Ferrari energy unit is one other ace up the Scuderia’s sleeve.
What they stated
Fred Vasseur, workforce principal: “It’s extremely tough to have a transparent image of efficiency. Crucial [thing] is that the relative efficiency of Melbourne will not most likely be the image on the finish of the season, however I favor to be in a good condition in Melbourne.
“However total it is nonetheless tight. [On Thursday] you had two automobiles in lower than 0.200s and we’ve got no clue in regards to the engine, in regards to the stage of gas, or tons of parameters which are making a a lot larger distinction than the 0.200s of distinction between the 2 automobiles. However total, it went very nicely on reliability. We did way more than anticipated.”
Williams – 790 laps
What they did
Williams has had some catching as much as do in Bahrain after not preparing in time to run on the Barcelona shakedown, and by and huge it has been ready to try this.
It’s early days, but when there is a Champions League with the highest 4 groups and a Europa League that includes Alpine, Racing Bulls, Haas and Williams, then the Grove workforce seems to be in the direction of the again of that group slightly than in entrance, however that may all change shortly because the workforce unlocks extra efficiency from a automotive that has nonetheless accomplished fewer miles than a number of of its friends.
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Photograph by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
Paddock chatter has it that Williams is not simply carrying the expectations of an early pivot to the brand new guidelines, but additionally the burden of some extra weight. In the meantime, the likes of Haas and Alpine have each appeared extra spectacular, so Williams is heading Down Below with a giant problem on its palms.
What they stated
James Vowles, workforce principal: “It is nice to see that throughout the final six days of testing, we have been in a position to full the total programme that we wished. That is only a testomony to the onerous work of the groups, each right here and in Grove, ensuring that we made up for misplaced time. Nobody actually is aware of the place all of the efficiency lies. That is what Melbourne is all about, so I am unable to wait to go there, to achieve an additional understanding of the place we’re.
“What I do know for positive, although, is we’ve got work to do. There is no doubt about it. We have put ourselves on the again foot. However my assurance to everyone seems to be that we’ve got an aggressive programme lining up in entrance of us in an effort to guarantee that we extract as a lot efficiency on this automotive as potential over the forthcoming months.”
Racing Bulls – 734
Purple Bull’s sister workforce has largely flown beneath the radar. At winter testing there are two methods to face out. By being affected by bother – good day, Aston – or by placing up spectacular laptimes. Racing Bulls did neither and that places it solidly within the midfield, roughly the place the Anglo-Italian brigade completed the earlier laws period.
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photos by way of Getty Photos
F1 2026’s solely rookie Arvid Lindblad acquitted himself nicely, benefitting from this season’s expanded winter programme to rise up to hurry for his maiden marketing campaign. Neither Lindblad’s nor team-mate Liam Lawson’s lengthy runs appeared to have the ability to match the likes of Alpine or Haas, nevertheless, regardless of being on a softer compound. However the workforce vowed to convey an honest improve bundle to Australia to place itself in a stronger place.
What they stated
Alan Permane, workforce principal: “Final week was productive and this week has been even higher. We’ve realized so much in regards to the automotive and the ability unit; each of which have run reliably all week. We’ve had a couple of minor points, however nothing that can have an effect on us as soon as we get to Melbourne. Liam and Arvid are shortly discovering extra efficiency and getting comfy with the automotive. The automotive will proceed to evolve shortly, and we’ll have the primary new components arriving in Australia. What we’re seeing right here will change quickly, and we’ll proceed including efficiency on a race-by-race foundation.”
Aston Martin – 334 laps
What they did
Not very a lot, is the reply. Aston Martin solely accomplished 334 laps throughout the six days of testing in Bahrain. That is 252 laps fewer than the subsequent workforce, collection newcomer Cadillac.
If its first week in Bahrain appeared like a battle, issues went from unhealthy to worse throughout week two. This week, an influence unit situation saved the AMR26 within the storage for 4 hours on Wednesday, earlier than Lance Stroll spun into the gravel because of what appeared like a technical fault. A battery-related drawback ended the workforce’s Thursday working early within the afternoon session, and it did not return to motion however for a handful of set up laps on Friday because it appeared to have run out of some spare components.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Photograph by: Peter Fox / Getty Photos
The 2026 pre-season has been little in need of a catastrophe. And whereas each the workforce and Honda try to placed on a courageous face, its delays and early gremlins on each the chassis and energy unit have meant that its issues have cascaded, falling additional behind in mileage and subsequently understanding of the brand new guidelines. The Adrian Newey led superteam has already spun itself into expectation administration, however it might want to dig deep each in Silverstone and Sakura to be within the ballpark this yr. A penny for Fernando Alonso’s ideas?
What they stated
Aston Martin workforce consultant Pedro de la Rosa: “Positively, we aren’t the place we wished to be. We’ve been the workforce with [the fewest] laps throughout pre-season testing. It is a new set of laws, the whole lot is new. We’ve a brand new companion in Honda, new gearbox, new rear suspension. We actually know the locations and the areas of the automotive we have to concentrate on. We might have most popular to do many extra laps, however the quantity of laps we’ve got performed is exhibiting us a path for the long run. So there’s nonetheless a whole lot of work to be performed behind the scenes.”
Honda trackside basic supervisor and chief engineer Shintaro Orihara: “It has been an everlasting week, however we prolong our because of the workforce for his or her help trackside and everybody working in Japan and the UK remotely. Total, we aren’t pleased with our efficiency and our reliability in the intervening time. Nonetheless, we’re all on the lookout for options collectively in Sakura, Milton Keynes and Silverstone.”
Haas – 794 laps
What they did
Haas has had the looks of swan, making an outwardly sleek look however furiously peddling away beneath the floor to even make the Barcelona shakedown, as workforce boss Ayao Komatsu admitted. However the workforce’s work seems to have paid off, as a result of it has been pound-for-pound probably the most spectacular wanting midfield runner at Sakhir – the VF-26 wanting comparatively mild to drive and quick over quick and longer stints. Once more, the same old caveats. You already know the drill.
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Workforce
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
Over all three exams, solely Mercedes has accomplished extra laps than Haas, which appears to have reconnected with its outdated popularity for beginning out of the blocks shortly – fairly a feat for F1’s smallest workforce.
What they stated
Ayao Komatsu, workforce principal: “I feel it’s important to be balanced. You all the time need extra. You all the time need your automotive to be delivering the whole lot completely, which isn’t the case. But when we have a look at the whole lot – an enormous regulation change, hitting the observe working, having a fairly extremely dependable automotive. We managed to finish two race distances at the moment. Okay, it wasn’t problem-free, however no less than we accomplished it. And we’re now going by means of the identical program. So in that sense, I feel we’re ticking off the fundamentals.”
Audi – 711 laps
What they did
Audi’s first a part of the double Bahrain take a look at appeared distinctly unimpressive, till it discovered a whole lot of positive aspects on the penultimate day and continued in the identical vein on Friday. It is not simply on the timesheets that noticed Audi make a surprisingly excessive look, however each Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto’s longer runs appeared very stable too.
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Workforce
Photograph by: Andy Hone/ LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
The top of the Bahrain take a look at has subsequently allayed fears Audi would be part of the corporate of Aston Martin and Cadillac, and as an alternative fuelled hopes it’s a part of the midfield group.
What they stated
James Key, technical director: “We’ve made important progress. Over the previous weeks we’ve got launched our race-spec aero bundle, accomplished race distance simulations, and carried out an in depth quantity of set-up work throughout each chassis and energy unit. It has been a particularly busy and intense interval. The drivers are comfy with the automotive and it’s a good platform to work with.
“There are areas to enhance by way of reliability and efficiency, however nothing sudden at this stage. Total, we’re broadly the place we hoped to be at this level within the season and in our growth as a workforce.”
Alpine – 677 laps
What they did
Alpine initially seemed to be on the entrance of the aforementioned Europa League group, even when Haas had considerably stolen its thunder in the direction of the tip of the two-pronged Bahrain take a look at. The primary caveat is that we merely have not seen as a lot from the Alpine A526 in race trim but.
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Photograph by: Mark Thompson / Getty Photos
However workforce Enstone’s 2026 challenger appears to have been born nicely, even when the scars of 2025’s disappointing marketing campaign have most likely taught it to not get carried away. Final yr quickly turned out to be a pointless train. Not so this yr, there isn’t any cause why the A526 could not contend for factors within the palms of Pierre Gasly and a maturing Franco Colapinto.
What they stated
Steve Nielsen, workforce principal: “This week in Bahrain we’ve got actually targeted on pushing the automotive increasingly throughout a variety of circumstances as we edge nearer to going racing as soon as once more. Solely then, in Australia, by Saturday afternoon, will we actually know the place we stand within the aggressive order. Proper now, although, we’re happy with our efforts in latest weeks. We’ve an inexpensive bundle and a great baseline to work from, no less than for the primary few races of the season.”
Cadillac – 586 laps
What they did
Cadillac’s pre-season roughly continued the best way it began in Barcelona. It by no means appeared significantly fast, it had its fair proportion of teething points, however it was there and it was gathering a great variety of laps. There isn’t any doubt F1’s eleventh workforce will begin from humble beginnings, a number of seconds behind the frontrunners, however it appears to be like like a good F1 operation.
And if Aston retains struggling to piece collectively a race distance, Cadillac won’t even be final.
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
Photograph by: Steven Tee / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
What they stated
Graeme Lowdon, workforce principal: “We’ve had a extremely productive two weeks out right here in Bahrain. A number of small points right here and there, similar to another Method 1 workforce, however all in all we might be very pleased with the progress that we’ve made.
“We’ve obtained a great baseline bundle that units us up nicely for our first race in Melbourne. It’s a large achievement to get to the place we are actually, and I’m extraordinarily grateful and happy with everybody within the workforce for all their onerous work.”
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