F1 2026: The first pre-season test of the 2026 Formula 1 season is officially done, and Bahrain has already given us plenty to talk about. Over three days at the Bahrain International Circuit, all 11 teams and 22 drivers got valuable running under their belts as they began preparing for the year ahead.
Pre-season testing isn’t about trophies or points. It’s about two things: speed and mileage. One shows potential performance, the other shows reliability.
So, who actually stood out? Let’s see.
Who Logged the Most Laps in the F1 Test?
| Team | Total Laps | Fastest Lap | Driver |
| Mercedes | 282 | 1m 33.669s | Kimi Antonelli |
| McLaren | 422 | 1m 34.549s | Oscar Piastri |
| Williams | 422 | 1m 36.793s | Alex Albon |
| Ferrari | 420 | 1m 34.209s | Lewis Hamilton |
| Red Bull | 343 | 1m 34.798s | Max Verstappen |
| Haas | 390 | 1m 35.394s | Ollie Bearman |
| Audi | 353 | 1m 36.291s | Nico Hulkenberg |
| Racing Bulls | 326 | 1m 36.808s | Liam Lawson |
| Alpine | 318 | 1m 35.806s | Franco Colapinto |
| Cadillac | 320 | 1m 36.824s | Valtteri Bottas |
| Aston Martin | 206 | 1m 38.248s | Fernando Alonso |
Who Was the Fastest Overall in the F1 Test?
While others were looking for mileage, Mercedes was out looking for lap time, and Mercedes took home a victory.
The final F1 test day saw Kimi Antonelli set the fastest lap of the entire test, with a 1m 33.669s. This makes Mercedes the overall pace-setters in Bahrain, despite lap counts being low (282) compared to the other teams’ lap counts.
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George Russell had the quickest lap earlier in the day before Antonelli went quicker, indicating Mercedes has fast one-lap speed. They did have some technical issues and Russell said things weren’t quite smooth on their end.
Although Mercedes was at the top of the timesheets, they will be hoping for something other than clean runs in the second test.
Other Key Takeaways from F1 Bahrain Test
- Ferrari impressed with consistency, completing 420 laps and showing solid reliability. Lewis Hamilton set their fastest time with a 1m 34.209s.
- Red Bull looked competitive and dependable overall, with Max Verstappen setting their best lap and strong mileage despite minor issues.
- Aston Martin had the toughest test, recording the lowest lap count at 206 and admitting they still need to find performance.
- Audi and Cadillac, both still settling into new eras, focused more on learning and reliability than headline times.
Right now, it’s way too early to crown favourites, but the signals matter. So, the fastest lap was Mercedes (Kimi Antonelli), and the most laps completed were by McLaren and Williams (422 laps each)
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Although testing doesn’t really tell the full story, it does hint at who’s comfortable and who still has work to do.
Also Read: Formula 1 Recap: Fastest Drivers, Biggest Mileage From Bahrain And Barcelona
