Charles Leclerc fastest on final day of Bahrain pre-season test ahead of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen

Charles Leclerc has ended the final day of 2026 pre-season testing in Bahrain on the prime of the timesheets, heading Lando Norris and Max Verstappen as Friday’s operating introduced the second test to an in depth.

After Leclerc had beforehand set the tempo throughout the morning session, the drivers and groups returned to motion at 1500 native time for a final likelihood to get some mileage earlier than the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 6-8.

While it was a quiet begin when the inexperienced mild appeared to sign the beginning of the session – with some groups getting ready to swap drivers – automobiles quickly began to emerge on observe, together with the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll.

It had already been confirmed by way of a statement from Honda earlier within the day, nevertheless, that the British outfit would have a “very limited” run plan on Friday as a consequence of a battery-related concern curbing Fernando Alonso’s operating on Thursday.

As such, whereas others continued on with their programmes all through the afternoon, Aston Martin confirmed that that they had accomplished their programme for the day with simply over two hours nonetheless remaining within the session, Stroll finishing simply six non-timed laps all through Friday.

Another identify lacking out on observe time was Norris, who was nonetheless but to emerge because the session neared the midway mark after McLaren opted to hold out work on their challenger following the morning’s operating, throughout which Oscar Piastri had been on the wheel. The Briton subsequently headed out within the MCL40, nevertheless, with two hours nonetheless left on the clock.

Leclerc additional lowered his earlier benchmark as he continued his full day within the SF-26, the Monegasque sitting on the prime on a 1m 33.629s halfway by way of the afternoon, whereas others accomplished prolonged stints included Williams’ Carlos Sainz and rookie Arvid Lindblad within the Racing Bulls machine.

As the day progressed and extra consultant situations kicked in, a number of drivers appeared to be pushing out on observe on the Bahrain International Circuit – together with Leclerc, who had a large second as he pumped in one other lap, having gone even sooner on the prime on a 1m 32.655s.

Sainz, in the meantime, turned the primary to bolt on a set of the C5 gentle tyres within the latter levels of the session, with a variety of programmes taking part in out throughout the pack as others seemingly targeted on race simulations amid a busy finish to Friday’s operating.

In a repeat of what had taken place on the finish of Day 1 and Day 2 of the second test, a brand new follow race begin lights process was held earlier than the chequered flag fell on Day 3. But previous to that, Leclerc had labored his approach all the way down to a 1m 31.992s, ending the day on prime with a margin of 0.879s from Norris – in addition to holding the accolade of the fastest time of the entire test.

Verstappen positioned in third for Red Bull, ahead of George Russell – who boosted Mercedes’ mileage after crew mate Kimi Antonelli stopped on observe with a pneumatic concern within the morning – whereas Pierre Gasly was fifth within the Alpine.

Haas’ Ollie Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto within the Audi, Antonelli, Lindblad and Sainz accomplished the highest 10, with Lindblad additionally holding the day’s highest lap rely of 165. Piastri claimed eleventh on the timesheets, adopted by the Haas of Esteban Ocon and Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar.

Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez slotted into P14 and P16 respectively, with Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg sandwiched between them. Stroll labeled in P17, having not set a timed lap throughout his operating, whereas 5 drivers didn’t take part as their crew mates accomplished the day’s programme.

With 2026 pre-season testing now full, the automobiles will subsequent be seen on observe in Melbourne when the 24-round calendar kicks off in two weeks’ time.