F1 Testing Results: Antonelli Fastest, Verstappen 3rd – Full Lap Times

Bahrain – Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes topped the timesheets on the penultimate day of Formula 1 preseason testing at the Bahrain International Circuit on February 19, 2026. The 19-year-old Italian posted a lap time of 1:32.803, edging out McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by just 0.058 seconds.

The session saw a closely contested battle for the fastest time, with Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen finishing third, 0.359 seconds behind Antonelli. Verstappen’s time of 1:33.162 demonstrated the competitive pace of the reigning champions, even in the early stages of the season. McLaren and Mercedes consistently traded the lead throughout the day, highlighting their strong preparations.

Piastri, driving for McLaren, had earlier set a benchmark of 1:32.861 on C3 compound tires, briefly claiming the top spot before Antonelli’s decisive lap. The Australian’s performance underscored McLaren’s improvements over the offseason and their potential to challenge for race wins in the upcoming 2026 season.

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton secured fourth place with a time of 1:33.408, despite a technical issue that limited his track time during the morning session. The seven-time world champion completed 78 laps, demonstrating the team’s commitment to maximizing testing opportunities. Ferrari focused on practice starts at the end of both sessions, a response to concerns about the new 2026 power units requiring additional time for a clean launch. Hamilton reportedly overtook four cars on the run to Turn 1 during one such practice start, including Verstappen, suggesting a potential advantage in race starts for the Ferrari-powered cars.

Lando Norris, sharing driving duties with Piastri at McLaren, recorded a time of 1:33.453, contributing to McLaren’s impressive overall mileage for the day. The team completed a total of 158 laps, the highest of any team, with Mercedes close behind at 156 laps. This high mileage suggests strong reliability and a productive testing program for both teams.

The testing session also saw Franco Colapinto of Alpine post a time of 1:33.818, completing 120 laps. Nico Hulkenberg of Audi finished with a 1:33.987 after 73 laps, while George Russell of Mercedes clocked a 1:34.111 over 77 laps. Esteban Ocon, driving for Haas, managed a 1:34.201 with 58 laps completed in the morning session.

Further down the order, Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls recorded a 1:34.532 with 106 laps and Alex Albon of Williams finished with a 1:34.555 after 117 laps. Gabriel Bortoleto of Audi and Oliver Bearman of Haas, both driving only in the morning session, posted times of 1:35.263 and 1:35.279 respectively.

Sergio Perez of Cadillac finished with a 1:35.369 after 50 laps, while Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin struggled with a time of 1:37.472 after 68 laps. Valtteri Bottas, also driving for Cadillac, completed 58 laps in the morning session, recording a 1:40.193.

The focus on practice starts by Ferrari, and their apparent advantage with the new power units, is a notable development from the testing session. The FIA’s decision to allow practice starts at the end of sessions reflects the challenges teams are facing in adapting to the new regulations. The improved starts observed with Ferrari-powered cars could be a significant factor in the early races of the 2026 season.

Beyond the lap times, the high mileage achieved by McLaren and Mercedes indicates a strong foundation for reliability as the teams prepare for the season opener. Aston Martin’s struggles, as evidenced by Alonso’s comparatively slow lap time, suggest they still have work to do to unlock the full potential of their car. The Bahrain test provides valuable data for all teams as they fine-tune their setups and prepare for the competitive challenges ahead.

The final day of preseason testing will be crucial for teams to validate their findings and make any necessary adjustments before the first race of the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship, which is just over a fortnight away. Antonelli’s performance is a particularly encouraging sign for Mercedes, demonstrating the potential of their young driver and the competitiveness of their new car.