Image: from Mexico Grand Prix X@mexicogp
By Open Chronicle Staff
SAKHIR, Bahrain – The 2026 Formula 1 season officially roared into life today at the Bahrain International Circuit, with McLaren’s Lando Norris signaling his intent by topping the timing sheets on the first day of pre-season testing. In a session that saw teams grappling with high track temperatures and the debut of several new technical packages, Norris clocked a blistering 1:34.669 to edge out reigning champion Max Verstappen.
While Verstappen dominated much of the day’s proceedings, topping the morning session and leading for most of the afternoon, Norris delivered a late-session surge on medium tires to snatch the fastest lap. Verstappen, who completed a marathon 133 laps, the highest of any driver, finished just 0.129 seconds behind the Briton.
Onboard hot-lap Lando Norris di pramusim Bahrain.
Sebelum T11 – lift & coast
T13, ditahan kecepatannya
T14-finish line, juga ditahanBukan sandbagging, tapi seperti inilah hot-lap di regs 2026. Manajemen baterai sepenting itu supaya tahan satu lap.pic.twitter.com/HlUHINr3v3
— F1 Speed Indonesia (@f1speed_indo) February 12, 2026
Heat and Endurance
The desert heat played a significant role throughout the day, with ambient temperatures hitting 31°C and track temperatures soaring to 36°C. These conditions provided a rigorous test for the cooling systems and tire degradation of the new 2026 challengers.
Charles Leclerc brought his Ferrari home in third place, trailing the leader by half a second, while Esteban Ocon surprised many by placing his Haas in fourth. Oscar Piastri rounded out the top five, confirming a strong opening day for the McLaren camp.
Día 1 del #F1Testing en Baréin:
Verstappen y Norris lideran tiempos, mientras que Checo Pérez suma 58 vueltas y Bottas 49. Colapinto y Hulkenberg enfrentan complicaciones, con la primera bandera roja del argentino. ¿Listos para más acción en los próximos días? 🏁 #F1 #Formula1 pic.twitter.com/Ich7zq7jmm
— Mexico Grand Prix 🇲🇽 (@mexicogp) February 12, 2026
Mixed Fortunes in the Paddock
It wasn’t smooth sailing for everyone under the Sakhir sun. Williams, looking to make up for lost time after missing the shakedown in Barcelona, saw Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz combine for a productive day of data gathering. However, Aston Martin faced a minor setback when Lance Stroll’s AMR26 was pulled into the garage for “preventive checks” following an anomaly in the power unit data.
Meanwhile, the session saw its only red flag when Nico Hülkenberg’s Audi came to a halt near the final corner. Fortunately for the German veteran, he was able to restart the car and limp back to the pits without external assistance.
Rookies and New Arrivals
The day also offered a glimpse at the next generation of talent. Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli completed his first official day of pre-season testing, finishing 11th, while Brazilian hopeful Gabriel Bortoleto ended the day in 15th for Audi after completing 49 laps.
As teams shift their focus to data analysis overnight, the paddock remains cautious. With fuel loads and engine modes closely guarded secrets, today’s times offer only a hint of the true pecking order. However, for Lando Norris and McLaren, ending the first day on top provides a significant psychological boost as the road to the 2026 World Championship begins.
Final Standings – Day 1 (Top 10):
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Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:34.669
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Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:34.798
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Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:35.190
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Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 1:35.578
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Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:35.602
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George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:36.108
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Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 1:36.433
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Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 1:36.765
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Nico Hülkenberg (Audi) – 1:36.861
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Alexander Albon (Williams) – 1:37.437