P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen led the first session of the Bahrain F1 test on Wednesday
Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing set the fastest time in the opening session of the Formula 1 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain, with Franco Colapinto causing a temporary stoppage.
The official pre-season testing began in Bahrain after an unofficial shakedown in Barcelona last month, conducted privately.
Teams have five days to test, limited to using a maximum of three per team.
Verstappen was the quickest driver on the first day, with George Russell of Mercedes and Oscar Piastri of McLaren following closely.
The morning saw steady progress, with Russell initially topping the timesheets before Verstappen took charge.
Red Bull’s rookie, Arvid Lindblad, impressed by placing sixth overall, while Carlos Sainz of Williams recorded the most laps completed.
The first session highlighted the competitive nature of the upcoming F1 season, with several teams showing promising performance.
