On the first day of the 2026 Formula 1 pre-season test in Bahrain, McLaren’s Lando Norris set the fastest lap time, beating Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by just 0.129 seconds.
Norris recorded the quickest time of the day in his McLaren, showing strong pace as teams begin testing their 2026 cars under the new rules.
Although Norris topped the speed charts, Verstappen completed more laps overall, showcasing Red Bull’s consistency and reliability during the session. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari was also among the top performers on day one.
Testing will continue over the next two days as teams gather data and fine-tune their new cars ahead of the upcoming season.