Oscar Piastri pips Leclerc to fastest time in afternoon of Day 1 test
18th February 2026McLaren’s Oscar Piastri has taken over at the top of the timing sheets, pipping Charles Leclerc’s best time from the morning as the test continues into the night.
Feature image credit: Getty images // Red Bull Content Pool
The Bahrain International Circuit roared back into life after the lunch break as Formula 1 cars got back out on track for the afternoon session. As the sun’s golden glow fell towards the horizon, the session crept over its halfway point.
Leclerc, who was fastest in the morning, held onto the fastest time of the test for nearly two hours into the session. That was until Piastri moved to the top of the timing boards, just minutes before the halfway point.
The Australian now heads the timing boards with a 1m 33.469s, which stands 0.27s faster than the Monegasque’s best. They are accompanied by Mercedes’ championship favourite, George Russell, who is third.
F1’s afternoon test didn’t go without issues as a red flag temporarily halted running thanks to Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll. The Canadian spun out at turn 11 and beached his car in the gravel.
After two hours completed in the afternoon, it means that most of the drivers have ventured out on track bar Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The Dutchman’s teammate, Isack Hadjar, has driving duties all day today, and the four-time world champion will miss out on running today.
The top three times;
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren 1m 33.469s
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari +0.27s
- George Russell, Mercedes +
Read more Formula 1 here:
- Charles Leclerc tops morning test on Day 1 in Bahrain
- F1 confirms circuit extension with calendar rotation
- Russell sets the pace after first hour of testing day 3
- Leclerc fastest after day 2 of Bahrain pre-season test
- Norris fastest after day 1 of Bahrain pre-season testing
- Max Verstappen tops morning on day 1 of Bahrain pre-season test
Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with the latest news from ApexMotorsports.co.uk!
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.
