P1racenews AI automatic summary:
F1 Testing Results: Bahrain timesheets and laps as Max Verstappen stops Mercedes dominance
The first official pre-season F1 testing session of 2026 concluded with Max Verstappen setting the fastest time at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Bahrain is the current host of pre-season testing, providing detailed timings and lap counts unlike the limited data from the previous Barcelona shakedown for fans.
Max Verstappen led the way in his RB22 during the morning session on day one, nearly two tenths quicker than Oscar Piastri in the McLaren.
Mercedes’ George Russell trailed behind in third, while Lewis Hamilton clocked in fourth but managed an impressive 52 laps in the SF-26.
Williams’ Carlos Sainz recorded the most laps in the morning, with 77 completed, making up for their absence in the Barcelona shakedown last month.
The session saw an early red flag due to Franco Colapinto’s Alpine, but the team swiftly resolved the issue, allowing him to complete a total of 28 laps on the track.
