Antonelli leads Russell in Mercedes 1-2 on day three

Mercedes reaffirmed perception that it’s the workforce to beat in Method 1 this yr after Andrea Kimi Antonelli topped a Silver Arrows 1-2 on the ultimate day of this week’s 2026 Bahrain pre-season check. 

The 19-year-old set a 1m33.669s, which was 0.249s faster than team-mate George Russell, who topped the morning session earlier than Antonelli jumped within the W17 post-lunch. 

So, it was the right approach for Mercedes to beat a considerably underwhelming day on Thursday, given an influence unit situation dominated out Antonelli for a lot of the morning operating. 

Nonetheless, the pair had been the one drivers to go sub 1m34s this week amid widespread perception that the German marque heads into 2026’s regulation change as favorite for the championship.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has performed his finest to dispute that tag although, arguing that Purple Bull is definitely the benchmark, however one workforce that has gone underneath the radar in Bahrain is Ferrari.

But the Scuderia had a productive Friday as Lewis Hamilton was the quickest non-Mercedes driver, setting a 1m34.209s within the morning leaving him 0.291s off Russell. Hamilton’s day ended 10 minutes early, nonetheless, as he went off at Flip 8 with what gave the impression to be a mechanical situation – a lack of gas being the prime suspect. 

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Isack Hadjar, Purple Bull Racing

Photograph by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Photographs by way of Getty Photographs

Though F1 managed to squeeze in some inexperienced flag operating on the very finish, it nonetheless didn’t threaten Hamilton’s place as Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen remained fourth and fifth respectively, 0.880s and 1.672s off Antonelli – with each occasions set throughout the afternoon.

Verstappen’s new team-mate Isack Hadjar was sixth, whereas Esteban Ocon (Haas), Franco Colapinto (Alpine), Oliver Bearman (Haas) and Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) accomplished the highest 10.

Lap occasions aren’t the one factor to analyse in testing, nonetheless, as mileage is simply as vital – if no more. And Piastri accomplished essentially the most excursions of the Bahrain circuit with 161.

That was essentially the most any driver has accomplished in at some point this week and Hamilton (150), Colapinto (144), plus Liam Lawson (119) had been the others to hit a century on Friday. 

They had been clearly helped by operating the entire day although, moderately than splitting duties with their team-mate. Even so, McLaren nonetheless accomplished essentially the most mileage of any workforce forward of Ferrari.

Williams got here third on that leaderboard with 146 laps, with Haas fourth (145), Alpine fifth (144) and Mercedes sixth (139), who may have been increased had Antonelli not missed the opening 90 minutes of the afternoon.

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing

Photograph by: Joe Portlock / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs

In the direction of the underside, bother continued to hit Aston Martin and newcomer Cadillac, which brought on the primary of two purple flags as a cooling situation compelled Valtteri Bottas to cease contained in the opening hour.

It then took the workforce practically two hours to ship him again out, leaving it with simply 105 laps on Friday whereas Aston solely accomplished 72 excursions. That’s due to an unspecified situation, which saved Lance Stroll out for a lot of the afternoon operating.

This was the primary of two official pre-season checks for 2026, with drivers returning to Bahrain for an additional three-day session on 18-20 February earlier than the Melbourne opener in March.

F1 Bahrain pre-season check – Day 3 

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