Catch the action from Day 1 of the second Bahrain test

George Russell and Mercedes kicked off the final 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain with a strong performance, topping the timesheets on Wednesday. Russell's best lap of 1m 33.459s placed him just 0.010s ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri, who impressed with the second-fastest time. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc secured the third spot, a mere three-tenths behind. The opening day at the Bahrain International Circuit saw drivers pushing their new machinery to the limits, resulting in several minor incidents, including a spin for Aston Martin's Lance Stroll that briefly brought out the red flags. The action-packed session provided an early glimpse into the contenders for the upcoming season.