P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was the fastest driver in the first half of the opening day of Formula 1’s first 2026 Bahrain pre-season test
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen set the fastest lap time in the first half of the 2026 Bahrain pre-season test for Formula 1. This test marks the first time all 11 teams are on track with their 2026 cars after the behind-closed-doors Barcelona sessions. Verstappen’s 1m35.433s lap was the quickest, completed during the second hour on medium tires. He completed 65 laps in the RB22, exceeding the Bahrain Grand Prix race distance. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was just 0.169s behind Verstappen, with George Russell third and Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari in fourth. Esteban Ocon and Arvid Lindblad also impressed, while Williams’ Carlos Sainz completed the most laps on day one.
