George Russell of Mercedes set the fastest lap time during Wednesday’s testing session in Bahrain, edging out McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by just 0.01 seconds as Formula 1 teams continue preparations for the 2026 season. The preseason testing is a crucial period for teams to refine their car setups and assess performance before the season-opening race in Australia on March 8.
Russell clocked a lap of 1m33.459s, improving upon teammate Kimi Antonelli’s benchmark of 1m33.669s from the previous week. Piastri followed closely behind with a time of 1m33.469s, too utilizing C3 tires.
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari initially led the morning session with a time of 1m33.739s, marking Ferrari’s quickest lap so far. Still, the Scuderia faced some challenges as Lewis Hamilton’s running was limited to 44 laps in the afternoon due to an unspecified technical issue.
Lando Norris and Antonelli rounded out the top five, while Isack Hadjar of Red Bull finished sixth. Hadjar completed 66 laps, though his morning session was hampered by a technical problem related to the engine’s coolant circuits.
The gap between the leading teams and the rest of the field remains significant, as several midfield teams continue to grapple with technical difficulties. Aston Martin and Cadillac were among those encountering issues during the session.
Russell’s fast lap underscores Mercedes’ strong performance during the Bahrain test, maintaining their position at the top of the timesheets. This sets the stage for a competitive start to the 2026 Formula 1 season.
