P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Charles Leclerc entered the 1m 31s to top the final day of pre-season testing for 2026. Next up, the opening round!
Charles Leclerc set a stunning 1m 31.992 to go fastest on the final day of pre-season testing in Bahrain, with Aston Martin’s struggles continuing to worsen.
Leclerc’s impressive 130 laps in the SF-26 included the attention-grabbing 1m 31.992 lap on C4 tyres, coming within 2.1s of Oscar Piastri’s 2025 Bahrain pole lap.
Meanwhile, Lance Stroll faced a disastrous day for Aston Martin, managing only six laps due to major Honda power unit issues, leaving the team in a tough spot before the season opener in Australia.
Reigning champion Lando Norris posted the second-quickest lap, nearly nine-tenths off Leclerc, with Max Verstappen, George Russell, and Pierre Gasly completing the top five.
McLaren had a mixed day, Cadillac dealt with electrical faults, while rookie Arvid Lindblad’s impressive 164 laps stood out amidst the day’s challenges.
The performance of Williams raised concerns, with Carlos Sainz 10th on the timesheets, trailing Leclerc by 2.3s on C5 tyres, as three distinct groups seemed to emerge during testing.
