Antonelli leads competitive field on day 2 of Bahrain F1 testing

Day 2 of Formula 1’s final pre-season testing concluded on Thursday with Andrea Kimi Antonelli delivering a standout performance to place Mercedes at the top of the timesheets at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Antonelli set the fastest lap of the day during the closing phase of running, combining short qualifying simulations with longer race-style stints. His effort highlighted Mercedes’ strong early adaptation to the new technical regulations, with the team completing a smooth and high-mileage programme focused on balance, tyre management and reliability.

Close behind, Oscar Piastri continued McLaren’s impressive showing. The Australian consistently featured near the front throughout the day, underlining the team’s competitive long-run pace and efficient car behaviour. McLaren’s approach centred on gathering race data while still demonstrating speed over a single lap.

Max Verstappen placed Red Bull among the leading group with a solid top-three performance. The reigning world champion split his time between performance runs and development work, as Red Bull prioritised consistency and system checks over outright lap times.

For Ferrari , the focus remained on experimentation. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc completed limited but targeted running while evaluating aerodynamic updates. Ferrari attracted attention with innovative bodywork concepts aimed at improving efficiency under the sport’s new active-aero rules.

Further down the order, teams such as Williams, Alpine, Aston Martin and Audi concentrated on collecting data and refining setups. Drivers rotated between morning and afternoon sessions, testing different tyre compounds and fuel loads as engineers analysed performance trends across varying track conditions.

While lap times drew headlines, officials and teams stressed that pre-season testing carries no championship points and offers only a rough guide to competitiveness. Different fuel strategies and run plans mean the true pecking order will only become clear once racing begins.

With Day 2 now complete, attention turns to Friday’s final session of pre-season testing , the last opportunity for teams to fine-tune their cars before the opening round of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Early signs suggest Mercedes and McLaren have found encouraging pace, with Red Bull and Ferrari close enough to promise a tightly contested campaign ahead.