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McLaren seizes Bahrain F1 test glory while Red Bull and Verstappen steal the spotlight

Redação by Redação
February 11, 2026
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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McLaren seizes Bahrain F1 test glory while Red Bull and Verstappen steal the spotlight

McLaren Takes the Spotlight on Day One of Bahrain F1 Testing, but Red Bull's Max Verstappen Steals the Show!

In a thrilling opening day of Formula 1 testing in Bahrain, reigning champion Lando Norris and his McLaren team achieved the fastest lap of the day, clocking in at an impressive 1m34.669s. However, all eyes were on Max Verstappen and the Red Bull team, who showcased a remarkable performance that left fans buzzing.

Norris, who took the wheel of the MCL40 from his teammate Oscar Piastri during the midday break, surged ahead of Verstappen's efforts with just an hour left in the session. While his time was notable, it still lagged a staggering four seconds behind the fastest lap recorded during last year's Bahrain test. Verstappen, despite his relentless attempts on softer tires, couldn't quite match Norris's time, finishing just over a tenth of a second slower.

But don't let the numbers fool you; Verstappen's day was far from lackluster. He dominated the track with a series of impressive long runs, leaving onlookers in awe of his consistent performance. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff even raised eyebrows with his comments about the new Red Bull-Ford power unit, claiming it currently enjoys a “massive energy deployment advantage.”

The competition didn't end with McLaren and Red Bull. Charles Leclerc, sharing the Ferrari with teammate Lewis Hamilton, finished just more than half a second behind Norris, while Esteban Ocon in the Haas, and morning session drivers Piastri, George Russell, and Hamilton rounded out the competitive field. The only other teams to dip below the 1m37s mark were Alpine, driven by Pierre Gasly, and Audi, piloted by Nico Hulkenberg.

The Audi car, flaunting a radically different sidepod design, initially caused a red flag due to a stoppage early in the afternoon. However, the team quickly resolved the issue and continued testing extensively. Meanwhile, Mercedes encountered a hiccup while preparing Kimi Antonelli to take over from Russell, leading to minimal running time for Antonelli, who only hit the track in the final hour.

In stark contrast, Aston Martin–Honda had a rough day, with their car completely absent in the afternoon session after managing only 36 laps with Lance Stroll. A statement from Honda revealed, “Our power unit test plan today with Lance went as planned in the morning. However, we detected a data anomaly this afternoon which required further analysis. We will fix the issue and resume testing tomorrow.” This mileage deficit put them behind the likes of Williams, who, unlike Aston Martin, managed to surpass their total collective laps thanks to Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon nearing 150 laps.

The new Cadillac team also made its presence felt, ending the day with a respectable performance, albeit four seconds off the leading pace, finishing 14th and 16th overall out of 18 drivers.

As the first day of testing wraps up, the stage is set for intense competition in the coming days. McLaren may have claimed the fastest time, but with Red Bull's undeniable prowess on display, fans are eagerly awaiting what unfolds next in this electrifying season of Formula 1!

Tags: 1958-formula-1-season2019-red-bull-crandon-world-cup2025-mclaren-f1-championshipaf-corse-ferrariLando NorrisLewis Hamiltonmax-verstappen-en
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