The 2026 pre-season Formula 1 tests in Bahrain have wrapped up, and while Charles Leclerc’s speed in the SF-26 grabbed headlines, the true story of the week was reliability. McLaren emerged as the standout, completing an impressive 817 laps despite Lando Norris encountering a technical issue during the day. This consistency earned them the “GP of reliability,” ahead of Haas and Williams, while Ferrari finished fourth with 745 laps. Aston Martin had a difficult week, managing only 334 laps and leaving plenty of questions ahead of the season opener in Melbourne.
Test numbers and reliability
While lap times often steal the spotlight, Frederic Vasseur and other team principals have reminded fans that raw speed is not the primary metric in winter testing. Variables like fuel load, tire choice, and engine mapping can drastically affect lap times. What really matters is the data collected and the ability to run long stints reliably – and on that front, McLaren led the way.
Haas was a positive surprise, completing 794 laps, while Williams – needing maximum running after missing the Montmeló shakedown – recorded 790 laps. Ferrari completed 745 laps, demonstrating solid reliability, whereas Mercedes and Red Bull were hampered by issues with Kimi Antonelli and Isack Hadjar, finishing sixth and ninth, respectively. Aston Martin’s six days were a struggle, raising doubts about their preparation for Melbourne.
Team mileage in Bahrain
Here’s the breakdown of laps completed by teams in Bahrain:
| Position | Team | Laps completed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | McLaren | 817 |
| 2 | Haas | 794 |
| 3 | Williams | 790 |
| 4 | Ferrari | 745 |
| 5 | Racing Bulls | 734 |
| 6 | Mercedes | 714 |
| 7 | Audi | 711 |
| 8 | Alpine | 677 |
| 9 | Red Bull | 672 |
| 10 | Cadillac | 586 |
| 11 | Aston Martin | 334 |
Power unit mileage
Looking at engine manufacturers, Mercedes-powered teams completed a total of 2,998 laps, Ferrari engines 2,125, Red Bull Ford 1,406, Audi 711, and Honda 334.
Including Montmeló shakedown
If we factor in the Montmeló shakedown – which Williams missed and Aston Martin arrived late – the overall pre-season mileage changes the leaderboard. Mercedes and Ferrari climb to the top, showing strong preparation heading into the season.
| Position | Team | Pre-season laps |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes | 1,214 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 1,185 |
| 3 | Haas | 1,185 |
| 4 | McLaren | 1,105 |
| 5 | Racing Bulls | 1,052 |
| 6 | Alpine | 1,026 |
| 7 | Red Bull | 975 |
| 8 | Audi | 954 |
| 9 | Williams | 790 |
| 10 | Cadillac | 750 |
| 11 | Aston Martin | 400 |
For engine manufacturers including the shakedown, Mercedes tops with 4,135 laps, Ferrari second with 3,120, Red Bull Ford third with 2,027, Audi 954, and Honda 400.
Takeaways
The Bahrain pre-season tests underline the importance of reliability in preparing for Melbourne. McLaren’s consistent mileage demonstrates they have a solid base, Haas and Williams show promising improvements, while Ferrari balances speed and reliability. Aston Martin, however, faces a challenging start to the season after a disrupted testing program.
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