Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and George Russell set the quickest occasions on the ultimate day of the primary Bahrain check forward of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton amid continued claims and counter claims from F1’s 4 main groups about who is actually 2026’s early main drive.
Russell had topped Friday’s morning session with a then test-best quickest lap of 1:33.918 earlier than team-mate Antonelli twice went quicker throughout his afternoon within the automotive.
The Italian teen completed up posting a 1:33.669 to set the benchmark for the primary week of working in Sakhir.
Hamilton ran all day within the Ferrari SF-26 along with his third-best time of 1:34.209 set throughout his morning’s working.
The seven-time world champion racked up a mammoth 138 laps, though the automotive didn’t make it again to the pit lane on the finish of the day underneath its personal steam after Hamilton needed to pull over within the Flip 4 run-off space with simply over 10 minutes of the day to run.
Ferrari haven’t but confirmed whether or not the automotive suffered a reliability glitch, or it was merely a precautionary stoppage.
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Lewis Hamilton’s closing session was reduce brief after a automotive subject introduced out the crimson flag.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who additionally had a busy full day of working, was fourth quickest on this planet champions’ MCL40 after 153 laps, eight tenths slower than Antonelli.
Crimson Bull break up their working between Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjkar and neither troubled the highest of Friday’s timesheet, each drivers ending over 1.5s again on Antonelli’s time in fifth and sixth locations respectively.
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Isack Hadjar ended up within the Mercedes pit field somewhat than his personal positioned simply in entrance.
Nevertheless, echoing feedback made by his workforce boss Toto Wolff on Wednesday, Russell stated Crimson Bull and their first-ever energy unit have been truly the mixture to beat heading into subsequent week’s closing check.
“Probably the most concerning thing for everyone is looking at Red Bull’s performance, especially on their engine side, they look a step above everyone else,” advised Russell.
Russell added to the written media: “You’re talking in the order of half a second to a second in deployment over the course of a lap. So, it’s pretty scary to see that difference.”
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George Russell admitted that Mercedes have been struggling reliability points through the first Bahrain Take a look at.
However Crimson Bull themselves have continued to level to bookmakers’ title favourites Mercedes as having the very best bundle up to now, whereas each Russell and McLaren’s Lando Norris have talked up Ferrari’s tempo as Leclerc confirmed an attention grabbing afternoon long term on Thursday.
“Ferrari were quick but clearly Mercedes on one lap were very, very quick today in bad conditions,” stated Pierre Wache, Crimson Bull’s technical director.
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Crimson Bull Technical Director Pierre Wache feels Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari are on the high as compared.
“It’s difficult to judge but it looks like we are behind on our side. We also did a race simulation yesterday, so some stuff to improve. Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari are there at the top.”
However as Sky Sports activities F1’s Ted Kravitz quipped: “Between the top four teams it’s a case of pass the parcel!”
Extra to comply with…
Sky Sports activities F1’s Bahrain Testing schedule
Take a look at Two: Wednesday 18th, Thursday nineteenth, Friday twentieth February
- 6.50am-11.05am: Morning session Reside
- 11.55am-4.10pm: Afternoon session Reside
- 8pm: Testing Wrap
Watch each race of the 2026 F1 season stay on Sky Sports activities, beginning with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
