Formula 1 News of the Week – February 18, 2026
The first official Formula 1 pre-season test of the 2026 season is in the books. Three days of running at the Bahrain International Circuit have given teams and drivers their first real taste of the new regulations, producing headline times, intriguing data, and a brutally honest assessment from one team. As the paddock packs up before returning to Sakhir next week, here are the key takeaways from the opening act of the new era.
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⏱️ Mercedes Top Final Day as Antonelli Sets Benchmark
The timing screens on the final day belonged to Mercedes, with sophomore driver Kimi Antonelli setting the fastest lap of the entire test with a 1m 33.669s. His time, set on Friday afternoon, narrowly eclipsed the morning benchmark set by his teammate George Russell (1m 33.918s).
Lewis Hamilton ended the day third fastest for Ferrari, just over half a second off the pace, despite a late stoppage on track. He was followed by Oscar Piastri (McLaren), the Red Bull duo of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar, and then a tightly packed midfield.
Despite the headline-grabbing lap times from the Silver Arrows, a note of caution was struck by Russell, who suggested the team had “taken a step back” after experiencing some technical gremlins earlier in the week.
🧐 Leclerc: Mercedes “Hiding a Massive Amount” of Performance
While Mercedes ended the test on top of the timesheets, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc believes there is much more to come from the Silver Arrows—and that they, like others, are deliberately concealing their true hand.
Despite a strong and reliable test for Ferrari—they completed the third-highest lap count (420)—Leclerc is urging caution. He pointed out that the complexity of the new regulations offers teams far more scope to mask their genuine pace.
“For now I’ll stay really cautious,” Leclerc said. “If last year you had only two or three things you could play with on the car to hide your potential, maybe now it’s 10 or 15… so in terms of performance itself, it’s very difficult to know.”
When asked if rivals like Red Bull and Mercedes were showing their full potential, Leclerc offered a revealing assessment. “I think Red Bull showed a little bit more than Mercedes and they’ve been very impressive,” he commented. “I think Mercedes is hiding a massive amount, and only time will tell how much they’ve been hiding.”
📊 By the Numbers: McLaren and Williams Lead the Mileage Race
While outright pace is impossible to gauge due to unknown fuel loads, the lap counters offer a clear picture of reliability and program completion. McLaren and Williams emerged as the endurance champions, both completing a staggering 422 laps over the three days—equivalent to over 2,200 kilometres.
Ferrari wasn’t far behind with 420 laps, while Haas (390), Audi (353), and Red Bull (343) also put in substantial mileage. At the other end of the spectrum, Aston Martin brought up the rear with just 206 laps, compounding a challenging start to their pre-season programme.
Here is the full team-by-team breakdown from the test:
| Team | Total Laps | Fastest Lap (Driver) |
|---|---|---|
| McLaren | 422 | 1m 34.549s (Piastri) |
| Williams | 422 | 1m 36.793s (Albon) |
| Ferrari | 420 | 1m 34.209s (Hamilton) |
| Haas | 390 | 1m 35.394s (Bearman) |
| Audi | 353 | 1m 36.291s (Hulkenberg) |
| Red Bull | 343 | 1m 34.798s (Verstappen) |
| Racing Bulls | 326 | 1m 36.808s (Lawson) |
| Cadillac | 320 | 1m 36.824s (Bottas) |
| Alpine | 318 | 1m 35.806s (Colapinto) |
| Mercedes | 282 | 1m 33.669s (Antonelli) |
| Aston Martin | 206 | 1m 38.248s (Alonso) |
📉 Aston Martin’s Reality Check: “Four-and-a-Half Seconds” Off
The most candid assessment of the test came from the Aston Martin camp. After a truncated running in Barcelona due to their late build schedule, the team struggled for both pace and mileage in Bahrain.
Lance Stroll delivered a remarkably frank appraisal, estimating his team is currently “four-and-a-half seconds” off the top teams. “We have a lot of work to do, and catching up to do,” he admitted. “We look like we’re four seconds off… four-and-a-half seconds.”
Stroll pointed to a combination of factors, including engine performance, balance, and grip. His legendary teammate, Fernando Alonso, echoed the sentiment, conceding the team is “a little bit on the back foot.” However, Alonso expressed absolute confidence in the long-term potential, stating, “On the chassis there is no doubt, we have the best with us. After 30-plus years of Adrian Newey dominating the sport, I think no one will doubt that we will find a way to have the best car eventually.”
🛣️ What’s Next: Back to Bahrain for the Final Showdown
The first chapter of pre-season is complete, but the work is far from over. Teams will now spend a few days back at base, furiously analyzing the data from Sakhir before packing up and returning for the final pre-season test, which runs from February 18-20 at the same Bahrain International Circuit.
This second and final test will be the last chance for drivers to acclimatize and for teams to unlock performance before the competitive fire burns for real at the Australian Grand Prix on March 6-8.
📰 Sources:
- 🔗 Antonelli and Mercedes top final day of first pre-season test in Bahrain – Formula1.com
- 🔗 Leclerc believes Mercedes ‘hiding massive amount’ of performance as he stays ‘cautious’ over Ferrari’s prospects – Formula1.com
- 🔗 IN NUMBERS: Who was the fastest and who recorded the most laps at the first 2026 Bahrain pre-season test? – Formula1.com
- 🔗 ‘We have a lot of work to do’ – Stroll claims Aston Martin are ‘four-and-a-half seconds’ off top teams with 2026 car – Formula1.com
