Pre-season testing for the 2026 Formula 1 championship has concluded after nine days across Bahrain and Barcelona, setting the stage for the season opener at the Australian Grand Prix on March 6-8. This marks the beginning of a new era with major regulation changes.
Ferrari appeared dominant on the timesheets, with Charles Leclerc setting the fastest lap in Bahrain and Lewis Hamilton quickest in Barcelona. However, the true pecking order remains unclear due to variables like fuel loads and engine modes.
In terms of mileage, a key testing metric, drivers George Russell (Mercedes), Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), and Esteban Ocon (Haas) all exceeded 3,000km. On the team side, Haas, Mercedes, and Ferrari each surpassed 6,000km, demonstrating strong reliability.
Mercedes-powered cars collectively completed over 20,000km, equivalent to half the Earth's circumference. Newcomer Audi showed promise with nearly 5,000km, while Aston Martin and Honda faced significant reliability challenges.