Leclerc leads Antonelli on final morning of Bahrain test

Ferrari demonstrated strong pace in the penultimate 2026 pre-season test session in Bahrain, with Charles Leclerc setting the fastest lap. Leclerc’s dominant run saw him comfortably ahead of Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who suffered a pneumatic issue causing a red flag, and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Ferrari, having drawn attention with innovative aero designs earlier in the week, continued their productive testing, completing race distances and collecting vital data. Meanwhile, Aston Martin faced continued difficulties, with a confirmed battery issue from power unit partner Honda limiting Lance Stroll's track time. Esteban Ocon of Haas impressed with a race distance, while Isack Hadjar showed pace for Racing Bulls despite a late lock-up. The session highlighted varying levels of preparedness among teams heading into the new season.