F1 2026 Bahrain pre-season take a look at: Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads Mercedes 1-2 on day three

Mercedes reaffirmed perception that it’s the staff to beat in Formulation 1 this yr after Andrea Kimi Antonelli topped a Silver Arrows 1-2 on the ultimate day of this week’s 2026 Bahrain pre-season take a look at.

The 19-year-old set a 1m33.669s, which was 0.249s faster than team-mate George Russell, who topped the morning session earlier than Antonelli jumped within the W17 post-lunch.

So, it was the right manner for Mercedes to beat a considerably underwhelming day on Thursday, given an influence unit challenge dominated out Antonelli for a lot of the morning operating.

Nonetheless, the pair have been the one drivers to go sub 1m34s this week amid widespread perception that the German marque heads into 2026’s regulation change as favorite for the championship.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has carried out his greatest to dispute that tag although, arguing that Crimson Bull is definitely the benchmark, however one staff that has gone underneath the radar in Bahrain is Ferrari.

But the Scuderia had a productive Friday as Lewis Hamilton was the quickest non-Mercedes driver, setting a 1m34.209s within the morning leaving him 0.291s off Russell. Hamilton’s day ended 10 minutes early, nevertheless, as he went off at Flip 8 with what gave the impression to be a mechanical challenge – a lack of gas being the prime suspect.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Isack Hadjar, Crimson Bull Racing

Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures

Though F1 managed to squeeze in some inexperienced flag operating on the very finish, it nonetheless didn’t threaten Hamilton’s place as Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen remained fourth and fifth respectively, 0.880s and 1.672s off Antonelli – with each occasions set through the afternoon.

Verstappen’s new team-mate Isack Hadjar was sixth, whereas Esteban Ocon (Haas), Franco Colapinto (Alpine), Oliver Bearman (Haas) and Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) accomplished the highest 10.

Lap occasions aren’t the one factor to analyse in testing, nevertheless, as mileage is simply as necessary – if no more. And Piastri accomplished essentially the most excursions of the Bahrain circuit with 161.

That was essentially the most any driver has accomplished in in the future this week and Hamilton (150), Colapinto (144), plus Liam Lawson (119) have been the others to hit a century on Friday.

They have been clearly helped by operating the entire day although, moderately than splitting duties with their team-mate. Even so, McLaren nonetheless accomplished essentially the most mileage of any staff forward of Ferrari.

Williams got here third on that leaderboard with 146 laps, with Haas fourth (145), Alpine fifth (144) and Mercedes sixth (139), who may have been increased had Antonelli not missed the opening 90 minutes of the afternoon.

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing

Picture by: Joe Portlock / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures

In the direction of the underside, bother continued to hit Aston Martin and newcomer Cadillac, which precipitated the primary of two crimson flags as a cooling challenge compelled Valtteri Bottas to cease contained in the opening hour.

It then took the staff almost two hours to ship him again out, leaving it with simply 105 laps on Friday whereas Aston solely accomplished 72 excursions. That’s due to an unspecified challenge, which stored Lance Stroll out for a lot of the afternoon operating.

This was the primary of two official pre-season checks for 2026, with drivers returning to Bahrain for one more three-day session on 18-20 February earlier than the Melbourne opener in March.

F1 Bahrain pre-season take a look at – Day 3

POS

DRIVER

TEAM

BEST LAP

GAP

LAPS

Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Mercedes

1m33.669s

George Russell

Mercedes

1m33.918s

+0.249s

Lewis Hamilton

Ferrari

1m34.209s

+0.540s

150

Oscar Piastri

McLaren

1:34.549s

+0.880s

161

Max Verstappen

Crimson Bull

1:35.341s

+0.672s

Isack Hadjar

Crimson Bull

1:35.610s

+1.941s

Esteban Ocon

Haas

1:35.753s

+2.084s

Franco Colapinto

Alpine

1:35.806s

+2.137s

144

Oliver Bearman

Haas

1:35.972s

+2.303s

Nico Hulkenberg

Audi

1:36.291s

+2.622s

Alexander Albon

Williams

1:36.665s

+3.124s

Liam Lawson

Racing Bulls

1:36.808s

+3.139s

119

Carlos Sainz

Williams

1:37.186s

+3.517s

Sergio Perez

Cadillac

1:37.365s

+3.696s

Gabriel Bortoleto

Audi

1:37.536s

+3.867s

Lance Stroll

Aston Martin

1:38.165s

+4.496s

Valtteri Bottas

Cadillac

1:38.772s

+5.103s

Photographs from Bahrain Pre-Season Testing – Day 3

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari