In Formula 1 preseason testing in Bahrain, Mercedes topped Thursday’s timesheets, while Franco Colapinto shined in the midfield and Checo Pérez logged key running as part of his adaptation process.
The 2026 Formula 1 preseason at the Bahrain International Circuit continues to deliver headlines that go beyond simple lap times. Mercedes once again rose to the top of the standings on Thursday, making it clear that its package remains significant even under the new technical regulations.
The day began with Charles Leclerc setting the fastest time in the morning, confirming that Ferrari also has competitive pace at this stage of testing. However, the afternoon was almost completely dominated by Mercedes, as Andrea Kimi Antonelli posted the quickest lap of the session, edging direct rivals by tenths and securing the overall best time.
Mercedes not only claimed the top spot, but also achieved a strong one-two finish with George Russell right behind Antonelli, completing a day in which the Brackley team stood out for both speed and consistency. The Silver Arrows have shown that, even before the championship begins, they have the tools to position themselves among the immediate frontrunners of 2026.
Amid that technical dominance, there was still room for drivers from other teams to deliver notable performances. Franco Colapinto, driving the Alpine A526, ended the day as the standout representative of the midfield, finishing inside the top ten and completing an important number of laps without setbacks, a positive sign for his development within the team.
Sergio “Checo” Pérez, meanwhile, experienced another day of learning as part of his program with Cadillac. Although his lap times did not place him among the fastest, his participation continues to build valuable experience in a category where adapting to a debutant team is a challenge in itself. Pérez completed a solid run of laps, providing data that will help the team better understand the new systems and the car’s reliability.
The day also highlighted how different teams are using these sessions to work through development programs and gather technical information, rather than simply chasing qualifying-style lap times.
McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull alternated runs with different fuel loads and long stints, aiming to generate useful data to refine their cars ahead of the first Grand Prix of the season in Australia.
Although Mercedes dominated the session, the paddock knows that preseason results must be taken with caution. Teams often balance performance with reliability testing, which can distort pure pace references until official competition begins.
As preseason continues, these tests serve as a comprehensive proving ground to evaluate how the cars behave under new and demanding rules, where every lap provides crucial information for approaching the 2026 season with greater technical and strategic certainty.