What we learned from Day 1 of the first Bahrain test

The opening day of official F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain saw promising starts for some teams and early challenges for others. Cadillac impressed with a robust debut, completing 107 laps and drawing praise for their 2026 challenger. Williams, despite earlier production delays, showcased remarkable reliability with 145 laps, the highest of any team. Max Verstappen dominated the mileage for Red Bull, logging 136 laps with their new Red Bull Ford power unit, signaling strong potential. Conversely, Mercedes encountered difficulties, including car balance issues and a suspension problem, limiting their running and leaving them with work to do. Teams are cautious on conclusions, but the day offered crucial insights.