Norris fastest after day 1 of Bahrain pre-season testing
11th February 2026McLaren’s reigning world champion, Lando Norris, has claimed the fastest lap of the first testing day in Bahrain, pipping Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Feature image credit: CC
That’s the first day under the belt in Bahrain for the 11 competitors who will compete in Formula 1 this season, and the first time the pack has driven in the new machinery of the season. Following a daytime-only run in Barcelona last month, F1 was back at it again today, driving in both the daylight and under the floodlights of the Bahrain International Circuit.
At the end of the first eight hours of testing in the Middle East, Norris was the fastest man out on track with a 1m 34.669s. The McLaren world champion pipped his 2025 title rival, Verstappen, by 0.129s, as Leclerc rounded out the top three on the board.
However, the day was not without issues as two red flags stopped the testing, one per session for both the morning and afternoon tests.
Despite this, the drivers were still able to get some meaningful running in as two drivers completed over 100 laps, with Verstappen clocking the most mileage across the day with 136 laps completed. But across all 11 teams, it was Williams who came out on top with the biggest lap count, completing 145 laps across both sessions.
So, who finished where after day one in Bahrain?
The timing board
- Lando Norris, McLaren – 1m 34.669s
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull – 1m 34.798s
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari – 1m 35.190s
- Esteban Ocon, Haas – 1m 35.578s
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren – 1m 35.602s
- George Russell, Mercedes – 1m 36.108s
- Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari – 1m 36.433s
- Pierre Gasly, Alpine – 1m 36.765s
- Nico Hulkenberg, Audi – 1m 36.861s
- Alexander Albon, Williams – 1m 37.437s
- Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes – 1m 37.629s
- Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls – 1m 37.945s
- Carlos Sainz, Williams – 1m 38.221s
- Sergio Perez, Cadillac – 1m 38.828s
- Gabriel Bortoleo, Audi – 1m 38.871s
- Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac – 1m 39.150s
- Lance Stroll, Aston Martin – 1m 39.883s
- Franco Colapinto, Alpine – 1m 40.33s
Total lap count:
McLaren – 112
Mercedes – 86
Red Bull – 136
Ferrari – 132
Williams – 145
Aston Martin – 36
Racing Bulls – 75
Haas – 115
Alpine – 77
Audi – 122
Cadillac – 107
Read more Formula 1 here:
- Max Verstappen tops morning on day 1 of Bahrain pre-season test
- Who is driving on day 1 of pre-season testing in Bahrain?
- Aston Martin nightmare start to livery launch as final F1 car unveiled
- McLaren reveal 2026 livery as testing prep ramps up
- Cadillac reveals contrasting livery ahead of F1 season
- Williams F1 reveal 2026 livery
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
