As the 2026 Formula 1 pre-season testing resumes in Bahrain, all eyes are on Mercedes, who have emerged as the early favorites. The Bahrain International Circuit will host two official testing sessions following a preliminary shakedown in Barcelona. This initial session allowed teams to evaluate their new cars, but media access was significantly restricted. In contrast, Bahrain promises greater transparency, with media attendance and live timings provided.
Mercedes Sets the Pace
During the Barcelona shakedown, Mercedes topped the mileage charts with an impressive 504 laps. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli demonstrated strong pace, igniting discussions about the team’s potential. Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team principal, suggested that Mercedes has “definitely raised the bar” in performance, indicating they may have surpassed their rivals.
Bahrain’s warmer weather may offer more representative conditions for performance evaluation. Teams will be eager to assess any improvements after addressing issues encountered in Barcelona. With McLaren using Mercedes’ power unit, they could emerge as strong contenders if Mercedes’ claims about their engine are validated.
Power Unit Controversy
However, controversy looms over Mercedes’ power unit. Rivals, including Ferrari, Honda, and Audi, express concerns about a possible performance advantage for Mercedes and Red Bull due to a potential loophole in the regulations regarding compression ratios. FIA official Nikolas Tombazis has stated that the governing body aims to clarify these issues before the season commences, avoiding disputes off the track.
Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, dismissed rivals’ complaints about the legality of their engine, urging teams to focus on performance instead of making excuses. The upcoming weeks will see this debate intensify, especially during media interactions at Bahrain.
Aston Martin and Williams Make Their Mark
Aston Martin is also in the spotlight, particularly with the debut of their newly designed chassis, the AMR26. The team faced delays but prepared to showcase their car’s capabilities in Bahrain after limited running in Barcelona. Fans and analysts are eager to see how this “extreme” interpretation of regulations will perform.
Williams will make their 2026 pre-season appearance in Bahrain after missing the Barcelona shakedown due to a failed crash test. They plan to debut their new FW48 car, featuring a striking blue livery. Fortunately, they will benefit from using the well-established Mercedes engine, which was tested thoroughly by other teams earlier.
Hope for Ferrari and Hamilton
Ferrari, who followed closely on the mileage charts in Barcelona, report improved performance despite some setbacks. Lewis Hamilton, in his first year with Ferrari, experienced technical difficulties that limited his track time. However, he remains optimistic about the season ahead. Previous challenges raise concerns about Ferrari’s competitiveness, particularly regarding their engine performance amid the ongoing dispute.
The Bahrain testing promises to be a pivotal moment for teams as they seek to establish the pecking order ahead of the season opener in Australia from March 6-8.
Testing Schedule Overview
- Test One: February 11-13
- Test Two: February 18-20
- Key Broadcasts:
- Final hour of each testing day shown live on Sky Sports F1.
- Additional coverage will include morning and afternoon sessions.
The excitement is building as the curtain rises on the new season, with Mercedes leading the charge in Bahrain. El-Balad will continue to cover all developments closely.
