The final morning of 2026 Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain delivered two very different storylines: Charles Leclerc underlined Ferrari’s strong form — while Aston Martin endured yet another nightmare session.
Leclerc went quickest with a 1m33.689s lap on the C3 tyre within the opening hour, marking the third session he has topped across the two weeks of testing. It wasn’t just about headline pace either — the Monegasque completed 80 laps, including a full race simulation, suggesting both speed and reliability are present in Ferrari’s new package.
Ferrari’s Rotating Rear Wing Raises Eyebrows
Ferrari’s unique 180-degree rotating rear wing flap continues to be the talking point of testing. The innovative design — seen again during Leclerc’s race simulation — has sparked debate throughout the paddock.
With Leclerc consistently near the top of the timesheets, the Scuderia appears confident in both its aerodynamic concept and energy deployment strategy under the new 2026 regulations.
Behind him, Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished second for Mercedes, just 0.227s adrift. However, Antonelli’s session ended early after a loss of pneumatic pressure forced a power unit change.
Oscar Piastri rounded out the top three for McLaren, while Esteban Ocon impressed with the highest lap count of the morning for Haas F1 Team.
Aston Martin’s Pre-Season Unravels
If Ferrari’s week has been smooth, Aston Martin’s has been anything but.
Lance Stroll managed just two laps on Friday morning due to a parts shortage linked to its new Honda power unit.
The struggles follow:
- An engine issue for Stroll earlier in the week
- A suspected technical fault causing a spin
- A similar power unit concern for Fernando Alonso
For a team entering a critical new works era with Honda, the lack of mileage is concerning. With limited data gathered and valuable testing hours lost, Aston Martin heads toward the season opener under significant pressure.
What the Times Really Tell Us
Testing times are notoriously deceptive — fuel loads, engine modes, and tyre compounds all distort the picture. However, certain trends are becoming clear:
- Ferrari looks sharp and confident
- Mercedes appears competitive but cautious
- McLaren remains quietly consistent
- Red Bull and its rookies are gathering steady mileage
- Aston Martin urgently needs reliability
The final afternoon session is expected to feature more qualifying simulations and “glory laps” as teams fine-tune performance before Melbourne.
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Final Thoughts
Leclerc’s pace has sent a clear early signal: Ferrari is ready to fight in 2026.
But for Aston Martin, the clock is ticking. Testing is the only safe place to uncover problems — and the British team is running out of time to solve them.
Melbourne is fast approaching.