The final day of Formula 1 preseason testing commenced this Friday at the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain. In the morning session, marked by high track temperatures, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc led the way with a lap time of 1:33.739 using C3 tires, completing 80 laps. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly finished sixth, just shy of matching the best lap time set by Franco Colapinto on Thursday. Cars will return to the track for another four hours starting at 9:00 local time.
Leclerc was the second busiest driver during the initial four-hour period, logging 80 laps and continuing his activity into the afternoon session. Notably, Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari, along with Fernando Alonso, Liam Lawson, and Colapinto, concluded their preseason testing on Thursday.
Behind Leclerc, Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli posted a time of 1:34.066, 0.227 seconds slower than the Ferrari driver, using the same C3 compound tires. Antonelli initially completed the most laps, consistently running on the C3 tires. However, after navigating Turn 10, he was forced to stop the car at the side of the track, though he had already managed to complete nearly 50 laps.
According to Motorsport.com, the issue affecting the Italian driver was a loss of tire pressure. This incident raised concerns within the Mercedes team, given the season’s commencement in just two weeks.
Aston Martin also faced setbacks on the final day of preseason testing. Following issues with Fernando Alonso’s car on Thursday, his teammate Lance Stroll entered the track 45 minutes before the morning session concluded.
The French driver, representing Alpine, clocked a time of 1:34.846 in the first session, falling short of the best lap time achieved by Colapinto (1:33.818), who will not be returning to the Middle Eastern track for further testing.
With that time, Gasly secured sixth place among the ten drivers who participated in the first session of the day, topped by Leclerc and Antonelli. The timing sheet was completed by Oscar Piastri (McLaren, +0.663). Esteban Ocon (Haas, +0.805); Isack Hadjar (Red Bull, +0.822); Gasly (Alpine, +1.157); Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls, +1.549); Carlos Sainz (Williams, +1.563); Nico Hulkenberg (+2.330); and Sergio “Checo” Pérez (Cadillac, +7.153).
Following the first four-hour session at the Bahrain International Circuit, Gasly’s lap time was slower than Colapinto’s, meaning he didn’t match the time set by the Argentinian driver during Thursday’s afternoon run.
The Argentinian driver enjoyed a full day in the cockpit of his A526, and in the second session, he continued to demonstrate strong performance, achieving a fast lap of 1:33.818 to secure sixth place among the 16 drivers who took to the track. After completing 120 laps, he finished 1.015 seconds off the fastest lap of the entire preseason, set by Andrea Kimi Antonelli (1:32.803).
“I’m very happy to have finished the preseason tests positively, completing 120 laps in what was a very busy day in the car. The conditions were very hot throughout the day. It was fantastic to be able to complete two solid sessions today and a good number of laps,” Colapinto stated after completing Thursday’s two sessions.
Charles Leclerc’s strong start to the final week of testing underscores Ferrari’s potential heading into the 2026 season. His 1:33.739 lap time, while slightly slower than Antonelli’s benchmark from the previous week, positions Ferrari as a frontrunner. Lando Norris in the McLaren followed closely behind, demonstrating McLaren’s continued progress. The competitive landscape is shaping up to be intensely contested, with Mercedes also showing promising pace through Antonelli.
The early issues experienced by Mercedes, specifically Antonelli’s tire pressure problem, will undoubtedly be a focus for the team as they prepare for the season opener. Addressing this concern will be crucial to maximizing their performance and reliability in the demanding race environment. Aston Martin’s struggles, continuing from Thursday with issues for both Alonso and Stroll, highlight the challenges they face in refining their new car.
Colapinto’s impressive performance throughout the preseason, culminating in a strong showing on Thursday, bodes well for his debut at the Australian Grand Prix on March 8th. His ability to consistently deliver competitive lap times and complete a high number of laps demonstrates his adaptability and potential within the Alpine team. The Argentinian’s dedication and progress will be closely watched as he embarks on his Formula 1 career.
As teams analyze the data collected during these final testing sessions, strategic decisions regarding car setup, aerodynamic configurations, and tire management will be refined. The insights gained will be instrumental in optimizing performance and maximizing competitiveness when the lights go out for the first race of the 2026 season.
