2026 Formula 1 Bahrain preseason test: Mercedes tops timing screens on the final day

Russell topped the timing screens at the end of the morning session on Friday and Antonelli went on to do the same in the afternoon going two and a half tenths faster than his teammate.

Antonelli's test-topping time was a 1:33.669 which was a little under four seconds slower that Oscar Piastri's pole time in Bahrain back in 2025.

The Italian managed 49 laps in the afternoon in addition to the 78 Russell did in the morning session as Mercedes leave Bahrain with 282 laps, on bettering Aston Martin who managed 206 laps.

Lewis Hamilton was the third fastest driver at the end of the day where he was on duty for Ferrari. He managed 138 laps despite his SF-26 stopping in the side of the track in the dying moments of the day.

Ferrari's total lap count after three days in Bahrain is 421.

Oscar Piastri wrapped up McLaren's Bahrain test with 153 laps on the final day and the fourth-fastest time.

The reigning F1 Champions leave Bahrain having accumulated the biggest lap count, 422 laps which they share with Williams.

Max Verstappen posted the fifth-best time during his morning run for Red Bull Racing while Isack Hadjar, who took over in the afternoon, was sixth fastest.

The Red Bull pair jointly delivered 108 laps on the final day with the team racking up 343 laps over the course of the last three days.

Hadjar had a funny moment as he attempted to pit but went for the Mercedes box instead of Red Bull's.

Mercedes graciously made way for him to go on to his team's pit.

Esteban Ocon was seventh fastest for Haas with 62 laps while his teammate, Ollie Bearman was ninth fastest with 70 laps as the American team racked up 390 laps from this test.

Franco Colapinto was eighth fastest at the end of Day in Bahrain and drove 136 laps but was lucky not to crash after losing control of his Alpine towards the end of the session as he head to the start/finish line for a practice start while trying to warm up the tyres.

He ended up in the grass, just avoiding the walls and then stopped into Turn 1.

Nico Hulkenberg took over from Gabriel Bortoleto at Audi and drive 47 laps with the tenth fastest time. The Brazilian managed 60 in the morning as Audi have a total of 354 laps after the test.

Williams can be happy with how their Bahrain test went despite their earlier delays with the FW48.

The achieved a lap count of 422 in the end, a joint best with McLaren out of which 127 laps were achieved by Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz on the final day.

The Thai driver drove in the afternoon and was 11th fastest while the Spaniard was 13th fastest.

Liam Lawson was 12th fastest with 119 laps while Sergio Perez was 17th fastest with 40 laps as Valtteri Bottas posted the slowest time with 37 laps as Cadillac leave Bahrain with 320 laps.

Lance Stroll was 15th fastest with 61 laps as Aston Martin managed the least number of laps, 206.