F1 Bahrain pre-season check: Charles Leclerc pips Lando Norris on morning of day 4

Charles Leclerc kicked off the ultimate week of pre-season testing for the 2026 System 1 marketing campaign by going quickest in Bahrain, as the highest groups asserted their dominance over the midfield.

The Ferrari driver set a 1m33.739s on prototype tyres contained in the opening hour of Wednesday’s morning session, 0.070s slower than the benchmark from final week.

This was the second session Leclerc had topped in Bahrain, having additionally gone quickest final Thursday, and he was 0.313s faster than reigning world champion Lando Norris within the McLaren.

Mercedes teenager Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who set final week’s benchmark, rounded out the highest three after going 0.419s slower than Leclerc – however 1.532s quicker than fourth-placed Alex Albon.

The Williams driver even had a bit wheel-to-wheel with Antonelli, who overtook him down the within of Flip 13 with 17 minutes remaining, although Albon put up little or no of a struggle.

It clearly meant little or no within the grand scheme of issues, however it did barely present how way more highly effective the frontrunners are heading into the season. The lap instances even supported Esteban Ocon’s declare that the midfield is “seconds away” from the highest 4 groups: McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari and Purple Bull.

Isack Hadjar, Purple Bull Racing

Picture by: Joe Portlock / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures

The final of these, nonetheless, was unable to point out its full potential on Wednesday morning given new signing Isack Hadjar was restricted to simply 13 laps within the RB22, because of a strain drawback with one of many coolant circuits within the engine.

It meant he missed the vast majority of the session, however Hadjar nonetheless set the sixth quickest lap with a 1m36.188s which was 0.290s slower than fifth-placed Pierre Gasly within the Alpine.

The remaining positions had been then respectively rounded out by Ocon, Fernando Alonso, Nico Hulkenberg, Arvid Lindblad and Sergio Perez, with the Cadillac additionally struggling mechanical issues.

Perez accomplished simply 24 laps for Cadillac, having skipped the opening hour earlier than not beginning correct operating till roughly 90 minutes remained, following numerous sensor points on his automotive.

F1 Bahrain pre-season check – Day 4 morning

Pos

Driver

Greatest Lap
Hole

Crew (Engine)

Laps

1
Charles Leclerc
1:33.739
Chief
Ferrari (Ferrari)
70

2
Lando Norris
1:34.052
+0.313
McLaren (Mercedes)
54

3
Kimi Antonelli
1:34.158
+0.419
Mercedes (Mercedes)
69

4
Alex Albon
1:35.690
+1.951
Williams (Mercedes)
55

5
Pierre Gasly
1:35.898
+2.159
Alpine (Mercedes)
61

6
Isack Hadjar
1:36.188
+2.449
Purple Bull (RBPT)
13