P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lando Norris leads twice red-flagged opening day of first 2026 Bahrain F1 test
Lando Norris, the reigning Formula 1 world champion, topped the timesheets on day one of the first 2026 Bahrain pre-season test, showcasing McLaren’s potential.
The day marked the official commencement of the 2026 pre-season testing, with Red Bull and Max Verstappen leading the way initially before Norris and McLaren surged ahead.
Norris set the fastest lap time of 1m34.669s on the C2 Pirelli tyre, outpacing Verstappen and securing his dominance till the end of the day.
The session was briefly halted twice by red flags, with incidents involving Franco Colapinto of Alpine and Nico Hulkenberg of Audi, both swiftly resolved.
Verstappen and Red Bull demonstrated strong reliability, with the Dutch driver completing the most laps, followed by Charles Leclerc for Ferrari and Esteban Ocon for Haas in the top three.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri shared driving duties with Norris, while Mercedes faced technical challenges with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Several drivers, including Lewis Hamilton and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, encountered issues affecting their performance on the opening day of testing, setting the stage for an intriguing 2026 F1 season.
