The first day of Formula 1’s 2026 preseason testing at Bahrain bore a strong resemblance to the 2025 drivers’ championship standings as Lando Norris delivered the fastest lap time.

Norris won his first F1 drivers’ title last year ahead of runner-up Max Verstappen, who posted the second-fastest lap time Wednesday, while taking the most test laps of any driver.

Norris’ lap time of 1:34.669 was best among all F1 drivers, while turning 58 laps for McLaren on the day. Redd Bull’s Verstapen was just behind at 1:34.798 while running 136 laps. Haas’ Estaban Ocon (115) was the only other driver to run at least 100 laps.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (79 laps) had the third best lap time on the day. He was fifth in last year’s drivers’ standings. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who has five career victories on the track in the Bahrain Grand Prix, had the seventh best time lap time on a day when he spun out in Turn 1 after a strong gust of wind.

Isack Hadjar, Fernando Alonso, Liam Lawson, and Oliver Bearman were the only drivers to not take a lap Tuesday, as the field turned 1,143 total laps on the 3.36-mile track.

–Field Level Media