F1 2026 Bahrain pre-season take a look at: George Russell even quicker as Cadillac causes purple flag

George Russell topped the ultimate morning session of Method 1’s first Bahrain pre-season take a look at, main Lewis Hamilton.

Russell set the quickest time of the week to this point lower than half an hour into Friday’s operating, with a 1m34.075s on smooth tyres. Thirty minutes later, the Mercedes driver improved his personal benchmark to a 1m33.918s, exactly as Ferrari’s Hamilton set a 1m34.209s.

No person else lapped any faster than 1m35s, with Max Verstappen third for Crimson Bull in 1m35.341s, adopted by Haas’ Oliver Bearman in 1m35.972s and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in 1m36.390s.

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Franco Colapinto and Carlos Sainz took sixth and seventh for Alpine and Williams, with Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson half a tenth slower than the Spaniard after utilizing completely medium tyres over his 84 laps this morning – extra mileage than anybody.

Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto, who ran nearly completely on the arduous compound earlier than a late run on softs, led Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll. The Canadian was 4.5 seconds off the tempo, which satirically is exactly what he stated the AMR26 was missing in efficiency.

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing

Picture by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs

After Cadillac precipitated an early purple flag on Thursday when Sergio Perez stopped on observe – although its yet-to-be-named automobile went on to finish a 105-lap day – Valtteri Bottas managed simply eight laps this morning earlier than struggling the identical destiny.

It took almost two hours for Cadillac to type the problem. The Finnish veteran was in a position to cowl 37 laps, however nonetheless propped up the time sheet.

F1 Bahrain pre-season take a look at Day 3 morning outcomes

POS
DRIVER
TEAM
BEST LAP
GAP
LAPS

1
Russell
Mercedes
1:33.918

78

2
Hamilton
Ferrari
1:34.209
+00.291
69

3
Verstappen
Crimson Bull
1:35.341
+01.423
61

4
Bearman
Haas
1:35.972
+02.054
70

5
Piastri
McLaren
1:36.390
+02.472
73

6
Colapinto
Alpine
1:36.874
+02.956
64

7
Sainz
Williams
1:37.186
+03.268
68

8
Lawson
Racing Bulls
1:37.238
+03.320
84

9
Bortoleto
Audi
1:38.251
+04.333
60

10
Stroll
Aston Martin
1:38.423
+04.505
54