Get ready for the ultimate Formula 1 thrill! The first session of the Bahrain F1 test has kicked off with a bang, and we've got all the juicy details for you. Max Verstappen, the Red Bull racer, dominated the opening day, setting the fastest time and leaving his competitors in the dust.
This is the first time all 11 teams have come together with their 2026 cars, creating an exciting and highly anticipated pre-season test. With the initial four hours complete, Verstappen's impressive 1m35.433s lap time on medium tires during the second hour put him at the top of the leaderboard.
But here's where it gets controversial... Verstappen wasn't the only one pushing the limits. Many drivers, including himself, experienced some close calls, like locking up at Turn 1 and going straight on with just an hour left in the session. It's a delicate balance between testing the car's capabilities and avoiding costly mistakes.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri came closest to Verstappen's time, finishing just 0.169s behind with 54 laps completed. George Russell, driving for Mercedes, was third, but a significant 0.675s behind the leader. Lewis Hamilton, who had set the pace in Barcelona, ended up fourth after a late improvement, but not without a few mishaps of his own, including a spin at Turn 1.
And this is the part most people miss... Haas' Esteban Ocon and Racing Bulls' rookie Arvid Lindblad put on a solid performance, with Lindblad completing an impressive 75 laps, one of the highest lap counts of the session. Williams, who missed the Barcelona test, made a strong start in Bahrain, with Carlos Sainz completing the most laps of anyone - a total of 77, and the seventh-best time.
Audi debuted some bold new sidepods and a redesigned nose, with Gabriel Bortoleto at the wheel. Franco Colapinto, driving for Alpine, caused the only red flag incident when his car stopped between Turns 7 and 8. He was able to get back on track, but ended up with the slowest time.
Here's a breakdown of the top 10 times from the first session:
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 1m35.433s, 65 laps
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 1m35.602s, 54 laps
- George Russell (Mercedes) - 1m36.108s, 56 laps
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 1m36.433s, 52 laps
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) - 1m37.169s, 64 laps
- Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) - 1m37.945s, 75 laps
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) - 1m38.221s, 77 laps
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) - 1m38.871s, 49 laps
- Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) - 1m39.150s, 49 laps
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) - 1m39.883s, 33 laps
So, what do you think? Are you surprised by the results? Who do you think will come out on top in the next session? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! We'd love to hear your predictions and insights.
