Formula 1

Charles Leclerc was the pacesetter during the second morning of pre-season testing in Bahrain, heading Lando Norris and Pierre Gasly at the top of the timesheets.

“All warfare is based on deception,” wrote Sun Tzu in his famous military strategy treatise, The Art of War – and what is Formula 1 if not the ultimate sporting war, with warrior-like drivers backed by armies of people whose one goal is the crushing defeat of the opposition.

Keep up to date with all the action - both on track and off it - as the 11 F1 teams work on preparations for the 2026 season. Live coverage of Day 2 in Bahrain.

With every team and driver eager to tick off more laps and gather as much data as possible, there will be plenty of action on Day 2 of the first pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit. But who will be behind the wheel throughout Thursday’s running? Check out the complete list below...

The F1 TV crew analyse what happened on Day 1 of the first pre-season test in Bahrain ahead of the 2026 campaign.

F1 technical expert Sam Collins gives his take on Audi's new-look sidepods that appeared in the first pre-season test.

The sound of 2026-spec Formula 1 cars reverberated around the Bahrain International Circuit on Wednesday as the much-anticipated opening day of pre-season testing began. Despite some impressive lap counts, it's way too early to be drawing any concrete conclusions regarding the pecking order, but there were definitely things to be gleaned from the day's action.

The first day of the opening pre-season testing in Bahrain is now complete.

See all 11 cars hit the track during the first pre-season test in Bahrain.

James Vowles feels that the “mood has lifted” at Williams as the team hit the track for official pre-season testing in Bahrain, having missed the Barcelona Shakedown just two weeks earlier.

Toto Wolff made clear that Mercedes “have to get our act together” as pre-season testing develops at the Bahrain International Circuit, after taking note of a “very, very strong” Max Verstappen and Red Bull.

Lewis Hamilton has opened up on the “difficult decision” to part ways with former race engineer Riccardo Adami, with the seven-time World Champion suggesting that not yet having a permanent replacement could be “detrimental” for him.

Lando Norris topped the timesheets as pre-season testing kicked off at the Bahrain International Circuit on Wednesday, leading the way from Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.

Test your knowledge of the Formula 1 news from the past seven days...

The first session of 2026 pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit has seen Max Verstappen top the timesheets.

As official pre-season testing begins in Bahrain ahead of the 2026 campaign, here are all the key test-related terms that you might hear mentioned quite frequently.

Pre-season testing in Bahrain is officially underway, with the cars having now been out on track at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Keep up to date with all the action - both on track and off it - as the 11 F1 teams work on preparations for the 2026 season. Live coverage of Day 1 in Bahrain.

These are the teams and drivers that will be in action for the opening day of the first pre-season test in Bahrain.

Red Bull test and reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda will return to the cockpit of a Formula 1 car later this month when he takes part in a special demonstration event in America.