Summary

  • Ferrari's Leclerc fastest on final day of pre-season testing in Bahrain

  • McLaren's Norris in second, with Red Bull's Verstappen third

  • Aston Martin finished testing early after completing only six laps on last day

  • First race in Melbourne takes place from 6-8 March

  • New technical regulations biggest change in F1 for years

Send us your F1 views

  1. Postpublished at 13:20 GMT 20 February

    We have a bit of racing going on. George Russell was driving behind Pierre Gasly and tries to overtake but the Alpine man is having none of that.

    Gasly has completed 66 laps so far, while Russell is on 23.

  2. get involved

    Get Involved - Send in your predictionspublished at 13:18 GMT 20 February

    Select the 'Get Involved' button to have your say

    Luke-John, Poole: I think Franco Colapinto could score his first podium this year. Alpine have looked much better than before with Mercedes power. And he's been closer to Gasly while making fewer errors. He's also just done his first pre-season.

    Michael, Merthyr Tydfil: Would be nice to have a closer fight at the top this season with several drivers in the mix. Hope Antonelli can prove what he's about but really fancy a Russell championship win in the final race.

    Raj, London: Ferrari ahead of Mercedes followed by Red Bull. The Ferrari engine cars will be strong. Lewis for the driver’s championship before he retires!

  3. Where is Norris?published at 13:14 GMT 20 February

    We are over an hour in to the afternoon session and world champion Lando Norris has not run any laps yet.

    The last time the TV camera panned to the McLaren garage, the team were working at the car.

    Gabriel Bortoleto has not left the Audi garage either.

  4. Postpublished at 13:11 GMT 20 February

    Max Verstappen completed a lap and has a little lock up. All good, as he carries on down the track.

    Charles Leclerc, George Russell, Arvid Lindblad, Carlos Sainz and Oliver Bearman are also out on the track with Verstappen.

    It's a nice hot day in Bahrain, 28C air temperature while the track temperature is 35C.

  5. Postpublished at 13:07 GMT 20 February

    Ferrari's Charles Leclerc has returned to the track. He goes purple on sector two but does not improve on his lap time.

    George Russell is on a long run, getting in as many laps as he can this afternoon.

  6. get involved

    Get Involved - Send in your predictionspublished at 13:04 GMT 20 February

    Select the 'Get Involved' button to have your say

    Dan, London: I think Ferrari have a good shout at the title this year judging by what we have seen in these past few sessions.

    Joel, Glossop: Those Ferrari starts could prove vital on tracks like Monaco where overtaking comes at a premium.

  7. Laps completed so farpublished at 13:02 GMT 20 February

    Lando Norris (McLaren) - 0

    George Russell (Mercedes) - 13

    Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 20

    Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 84

    Carlos Sainz (Williams) - 90

    Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) - 102

    Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) - 6

    Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 60

    Oliver Bearman (Haas) - 26

    Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) - 0

    Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) - 13

  8. Postpublished at 13:00 GMT 20 February

    We are about an hour in to the afternoon session, Lando Norris has not left the garage yet. The engineers are still working on the McLaren.

    Arvid Lindblad has been a very busy rookie, he has completed 102 laps in the Racing Bulls.

  9. Postpublished at 12:56 GMT 20 February

    Well, Ollie, Lance Stroll did head out earlier and complete a few laps. But he hasn't been out on the track in a while now.

    Max Verstappen has returned to the track, with a new set of medium tyres bolted on. 17 laps for him.

    So far the top five lap times are from the drivers in the morning session.

  10. get involved

    Get Involved - Send in your predictionspublished at 12:53 GMT 20 February

    Select the 'Get Involved' button to have your say

    Ollie, Billericay: It will be interesting to see Aston Martin this afternoon, if they decide to even run that is.

  11. Postpublished at 12:49 GMT 20 February

    The nose of the Red Bull has come off and we also have a wall of mechanics.

    Work is being done to Max Verstappen's car before he can head out again.

    Charles Leclerc is back out on the circuit in the Ferrari. He set a fast lap earlier this morning, 1:33.689.

    We are yet to see Lando Norris and Gabriel Bortoleto run laps this afternoon.

  12. 'The car's feeling good' - Russellpublished at 12:46 GMT 20 February

    George Russell during testing in BahrainImage source, Getty Images

    Mercedes' George Russell has been speaking to the media on the new car before his session this afternoon.

    The Brit set the fastest time on day one of final test, and his team-mate Kimi Antonelli did the same on day two.

    "Well, there definitely has been positives, but for every time there is an issue, that definitely sets you back quite a lot," Russell said.

    "Obviously, Kimi this morning had an issue on track and lost a good couple of hours. And the first test in Bahrain last week, we also had quite a few issues.

    "So, there's positives to take. The car's feeling good. The new power units are feeling fast and we're making improvements every single day. However, we need to keep on improving reliably soon."

  13. Postpublished at 12:42 GMT 20 February

    A pit stop for George Russell and he is back out on the circuit again.

    He joins Arvid Lindblad, Carlos Sainz, Valtteri Bottas and Oliver Bearman.

  14. Postpublished at 12:38 GMT 20 February

    Pierre Gasly is out of his Alpine and takes a short walk to the pit wall to speak to his team.

    George Russell is in his Mercedes and it looks like the issue Kimi Antonelli had this morning has been fixed. The Brit has set a lap time of 1:37.712.

    Valtteri Bottas is also out on the circuit in the Cadillac, four laps completed for him.

  15. What happened in the morning session?published at 12:35 GMT 20 February

    • Issues with Aston Martin's power unit means they'll run shorter stints
    • Lance Stroll managed two laps in the morning
    • Charles Leclerc was the fastest driver, with a lap time of 1:33.689
    • Esteban Ocon completed the most laps (81) in the Haas
    • Kimi Antonelli's session was cut short after his Mercedes stopped on the track
  16. Postpublished at 12:33 GMT 20 February

    The Aston Martin has been out on the circuit in Bahrain. But the car does not look very good.

    After Fernando Alonso's issue with the power unit yesterday, Honda released a statement:

    "Our last run with Fernando Alonso yesterday showed a battery-related issue that impacted our test plan with Aston Martin.

    "Due to this and a shortage of power unit parts, we have adapted today's run plan to be very limited and consist only of short stints."

  17. Postpublished at 12:29 GMT 20 February

    Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad has been busy today. He's in the car for a full day of testing and gets back out on the track to continue his laps, 82 on his tally now.

    Pierre Gasly, another full-day test driver, is also out on the track and he's clocked in 59 laps.

  18. get involved

    Get Involved - Send in your predictions for 2026published at 12:25 GMT 20 February

    Select the 'Get Involved' button to have your say

    We have been asking you to share your predictions for the 2026 season.

    Select the 'Get Involved' button if you'd like to share your thoughts.

  19. Postpublished at 12:20 GMT 20 February

    George Russell's Mercedes has been propped up, with the engineers looking like they are taping the car up.

    Carlos Sainz starts his second testing stint today, so far he has completed 66 laps.

  20. Postpublished at 12:17 GMT 20 February

    Max Verstappen's Red Bull is the only car out on the Bahrain International Circuit at the moment. He has completed four laps so far.

    Meanwhile, Adrian Newey is having a good look at the Aston Martin. I wonder what he is thinking about?