The second day of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain offered a clearer picture of the early competitive order, although reliability problems continued to affect several teams. With Pirelli bringing the hardest compounds, C1, C2 and C3, the focus remained on understanding the new 2026 cars and gathering valuable data rather than chasing outright performance.

The morning began with routine system checks, including virtual safety car simulations, before the first interruption arrived. Sergio Pérez stopped on the back straight in his Cadillac, forcing marshals to recover the car. Red Bull did not appear on track for the first part of the session due to a hydraulic issue discovered overnight, which limited their early running.

Ferrari quickly emerged as one of the strongest teams of the day. Charles Leclerc, driving the SF-26 for the full programme, set a benchmark time of 1:34.273 in the morning. That lap remained unbeaten for the rest of the day. The Monegasque driver combined speed with consistency and completed more than 135 laps, making it a highly productive session for the Italian team.

McLaren also enjoyed another encouraging day. Lando Norris finished second fastest, just over half a second behind Leclerc, and matched Ferrari in terms of mileage. However, the team remained cautious in its assessment of the new car, pointing out that conditions in Bahrain are very different from Barcelona and that there is still much to learn, particularly about the new power units in warmer temperatures.

In contrast, Mercedes endured a frustrating morning. Kimi Antonelli completed only three laps before a power unit issue forced the team to change the engine. George Russell took over in the afternoon but missed the first hour of running while repairs were completed. He eventually returned to the track and set the fourth fastest time, although he was well adrift of the leading pace.

Red Bull’s day improved after lunch when Isack Hadjar finally began his running programme. Despite losing valuable track time in the morning, he managed 87 laps and gradually built up speed, though he remained over a second slower than Russell’s best effort.

One of the standout performances came from Oliver Bearman in the Haas. He became the first driver to complete 100 laps and secured third place overall. His lap showed strong pace through the first two sectors before dropping slightly in the final part of the circuit, but it was still an impressive display from both driver and team.

The afternoon featured further red flags. Pierre Gasly stopped his Alpine near the barriers with a drivetrain issue, raising concerns for the French team after similar problems earlier in testing. Valtteri Bottas also caused a stoppage when a mirror detached from his Cadillac on the main straight. Fortunately, no other cars were affected.

Elsewhere, Aston Martin focused on long runs but finished almost four seconds off the pace, while Pérez recorded the slowest lap time of the day in his morning session. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto delivered a solid performance to finish in the midfield, ahead of Gasly.

As the sun set over the Bahrain circuit, the FIA carried out additional system checks, prompting yellow and red flag simulations. All drivers reacted correctly to the procedures, bringing a structured end to a busy day of running.

Overall, Ferrari and McLaren can be satisfied with both their pace and reliability on the second day of testing. Mercedes and Red Bull, meanwhile, will be aiming for a much smoother final day as they work to solve early technical concerns and maximise their preparation for the new season.

Results: Bahrain test day 2

1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:34.273, 139 laps
2. Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0.511, 149 laps
3. Oliver Bearman (Haas) – +1.121, 130 laps
4. George Russell (Mercedes) – +1.193, 54 laps
5. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) – +2.288, 87 laps
6. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) – +2.397, 66 laps
7. Pierre Gasky (Alpine) – +2.450, 97 laps
8. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) – +2.551, 67 laps
9. Alexander Albon (Williams) – +2.956, 62 laps
10. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)– +2.993, 47 laps
11. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)– +3.197, 82 laps
12. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +3.319, 69 laps
13. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – +3.744, 50 laps
14. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +3.975, 98 laps
15. Sergio Perez (Cadillac) – +4.380, 42 laps