F1: Ferrari Leads the Second Bahrain Test with Leclerc; Aston Martin Faces Reliability Woes

The final day of the second Bahrain pre-season test concluded with a clear statement of intent from Maranello. Ferrari wrapped up the week on a high after Charles Leclerc fired in the quickest lap of the session at the Sakhir circuit. He clocked a 1:31.992 late in the evening when the track cooled and temperatures fell, making him the only driver across the entire test to break into the 1:32s range.

The benchmark lap left him eight-tenths clear of the field. Ferrari spent the week focused on their 2026 technical regulations programme, working through intensive race simulations and balance checks. This final performance push suggests the F1-26 power unit has significant underlying pace.

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Leclerc also racked up 132 laps on the final day, providing the Scuderia with vital telemetry before the 2026 Australian Grand Prix season opener in Melbourne.

F1: The Top Four Teams

Lando Norris ended the day second for McLaren, despite his morning session being hampered by a precautionary mechanical check in the garage. Reigning champion Max Verstappen took third for Red Bull, while George Russell finished fourth for Mercedes-AMG.

Most of the front-running teams spent the afternoon pushing the limits of their Energy Recovery Systems (ERS). Mercedes, however, faced a setback; the team was forced to undergo a power unit swap in the morning after rookie Kimi Antonelli suffered a pneumatic pressure failure.

Ferrari’s primary objective throughout the Bahrain fortnight remained long-run consistency. The car featured several aero components, including an active aerodynamics wing to adjust airflow and a specialised exhaust flap to manage thermal rejection.

Crucially, the Ferrari engine completed the entire testing schedule without a single reliability failure, a boost for their 2026 World Championship aspirations.

F1: Aston Martin Woes at Second Bahrain Test

Aston Martin endured a difficult week, ending the test at the bottom of the mileage charts. The Silverstone-based team managed just six laps on Friday after persistent battery failures and a critical shortage of Honda engine spares forced an early retirement from the session. Lance Stroll completed only 30 laps across the entire week, the lowest tally of all 22 drivers on the 2026 F1 grid.

Overall, Aston Martin logged a mere 128 laps, falling short of their performance targets. Even the newcomer Cadillac team managed more distance, completing 266 laps. With visible on-track understeer and ERS mapping issues, Lawrence Stroll’s squad faces a race against time to find solutions.

The 2026 Formula 1 season officially kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix on 8 March. Teams now have a window to analyse the data gathered at Sakhir and finalise their car setups for the first race of this era.