What we learned from Day 1 of the second Bahrain test

The second official 2026 pre-season test commenced in Bahrain with Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren showing promising early signs. Ferrari, often underestimated, impressed on Day 1, introducing new aerodynamic parts and demonstrating strong performance despite Lewis Hamilton's track time issues. Hamilton expressed optimism, noting his input in the car's design. George Russell topped the timesheets, indicating Mercedes' formidable package, while Kimi Antonelli completed numerous laps. McLaren also had a productive day, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri reporting improved comfort. Haas continued their quietly impressive pre-season, showcasing reliability and positive feedback from drivers. Conversely, Cadillac faced a challenging start, with sensor problems and telemetry loss significantly limiting their track time on Wednesday.