The afternoon session of the Bahrain F1 tests has just concluded, marking the second half of the first day on track. Lando Norris ended the day as the fastest driver, while Max Verstappen completed the most laps. Charles Leclerc secured third place, with Lewis Hamilton finishing seventh. Here’s the full ranking from the Day 1 afternoon session:
| Position | Driver | Best lap | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | 1:34.669 | – | 53 |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | 1:34.798 | +0.129 | 131 |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | 1:35.190 | +0.521 | 75 |
| 4 | Esteban Ocon | 1:35.578 | +0.909 | 112 |
| 5 | Oscar Piastri | 1:35.602 | +0.933 | 54 |
| 6 | George Russell | 1:36.108 | +1.439 | 56 |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | 1:36.433 | +1.764 | 52 |
| 8 | Pierre Gasly | 1:36.769 | +2.100 | 45 |
| 9 | Nico Hulkenberg | 1:36.861 | +2.192 | 69 |
| 10 | Alexander Albon | 1:37.437 | +2.768 | 68 |
| 11 | Kimi Antonelli | 1:37.629 | +2.960 | 26 |
| 12 | Lindblad | 1:37.945 | +3.276 | 75 |
| 13 | Carlos Sainz | 1:38.221 | +3.552 | 77 |
| 14 | Sergio Perez | 1:38.828 | +4.159 | 55 |
| 15 | Bortoleto | 1:38.871 | +4.202 | 49 |
| 16 | Valtteri Bottas | 1:39.150 | +4.481 | 49 |
| 17 | Lance Stroll | 1:39.883 | +5.214 | 36 |
| 18 | Colapinto | 1:40.330 | +5.661 | 28 |
The first day of testing highlighted the reliability and consistency of the Red Bull team, with Verstappen completing an impressive 131 laps, far ahead of anyone else on the grid. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri showed strong pace with the McLaren, with Norris narrowly topping the timing sheets in the afternoon session. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc impressed with solid times and reliability, while Lewis Hamilton spent the day gathering data on the new SF-26, finishing seventh with a best lap of 1:36.433.
Overall, the Bahrain tests have provided teams with a mix of long runs and setup work, focusing on tire behavior, fuel loads, and understanding the new aerodynamic regulations. With Max Verstappen completing the most laps and several drivers trying different tire compounds, the first day offered plenty of insight into the direction of the teams ahead of the Melbourne season opener.
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