Russell sets new 2026 track record in Bahrain to top the opening day in Bahrain

George Russell ended the primary day of the second 2026 pre‑season check in Bahrain with the quickest lap time, after the Mercedes driver set a benchmark of 1m 33.459s throughout the afternoon session.

His effort positioned him narrowly forward of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who recorded a 1m 33.469s, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, whose morning time of 1m 33.739s remained adequate for third place.

Leclerc had initially topped the timesheets after the morning operating, when he produced his 1m 33.739s lap in comparatively cool situations. Because the afternoon progressed, the monitor floor improved and the lap occasions started to fall steadily. This allowed a number of drivers to surpass the morning benchmark, culminating in Russell’s late-session enchancment that secured him the quickest time of the day.

All groups besides Purple Bull modified drivers for the afternoon session. Purple Bull stored Isack Hadjar within the automotive as a result of he had misplaced operating earlier whereas the crew labored on the RB22.

The afternoon started quietly, with just a few vehicles heading out instantly after the inexperienced gentle. Ollie Bearman was the primary to take to the monitor within the Haas, and he was quickly adopted by Piastri and Lewis Hamilton, each of whom accomplished early aerodynamic analysis runs utilizing stream‑vis paint and aero rakes.

Roughly one hour into the session, Lance Stroll precipitated the one purple flag of the day when he misplaced the rear of his Aston Martin at Flip 11 and slid into the gravel. The automotive needed to be recovered, however the session resumed shortly afterward, permitting groups to proceed their programmes with solely two and a half days of testing remaining earlier than the season begins in Australia on March 6–8.

Because the solar set and the situations grew to become extra consultant of race weekend temperatures, Piastri moved to the highest of the timesheets with a 1m 33.469s. His lap was three‑tenths quicker than Leclerc’s morning effort and briefly regarded sturdy sufficient to finish the day in first place. Nevertheless, Russell quickly responded together with his 1m 33.459s, which put him forward by simply 0.010s.

Stroll returned to the monitor later within the session, as Aston Martin tried to get better mileage after Fernando Alonso had misplaced time earlier resulting from an influence unit situation. A number of drivers pushed more durable throughout the remaining hour, with each Franco Colapinto and Russell experiencing lock‑ups as they explored the boundaries of their vehicles. Others used the chance to practise operating in visitors by following their rivals carefully.

Earlier than the chequered flag ended the day, the FIA performed a check of a brand new race‑begin gentle process. All vehicles returned to the pit lane, accomplished a formation lap, then accomplished a second formation lap earlier than lining up on the grid for a simulated race begin.

On the conclusion of Day 1, Russell held the quickest time together with his 1m 33.459s, and he additionally accomplished the very best lap depend of the day with 76 laps. Piastri completed simply behind him, whereas Leclerc remained third because of his morning efficiency. Lando Norris and Kimi Antonelli accomplished the highest 5 with laps set earlier within the day.

Isack Hadjar completed sixth, adopted by Hamilton, Carlos Sainz, Colapinto, and Gabriel Bortoleto. Alex Albon positioned eleventh, forward of Liam Lawson, Bearman, Pierre Gasly, and Stroll. Esteban Ocon completed sixteenth for Haas, whereas Alonso, Nico Hülkenberg, Arvid Lindblad, Valtteri Bottas, and Sergio Pérez accomplished the classification.

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