Max Verstappen tops Bahrain testing timesheets on final day of F1 preseason

Max Verstappen climbs from his Red Bull during Bahrain preseason testing.

Max Verstappen set the pace on the final day of Formula 1 preseason testing at Bahrain. The Red Bull driver clocked 1:30.123 on soft tires during a qualifying simulation run Thursday afternoon. Lando Norris trailed by 0.214 seconds in the McLaren.

Verstappen completed 112 laps across the three-day session. Red Bull focused on long-run pace after early reliability checks cleared. The team introduced a revised floor package that delivered consistent downforce gains.

McLaren remained within striking distance throughout. Norris logged 98 laps with race trim setups. Oscar Piastri handled morning duties and posted the third-quickest time of 1:30.456.

Ferrari showed improved straight-line speed. Charles Leclerc placed fourth at 1:30.678 after aero tweaks addressed understeer issues. Lewis Hamilton managed 76 laps in the second Ferrari before a minor water leak sidelined the car.

Mercedes endured hydraulic woes that limited George Russell to 45 laps. Kimi Antonelli took over for the afternoon and climbed to sixth. Team principal noted progress on engine mapping despite setbacks.

Aston Martin impressed with Fernando Alonso fifth overall. The AMR26 featured an aggressive bargeboard design. Alonso praised balance during medium-tire stints.

New entrants Audi and Cadillac gathered baseline data. Nico Hulkenberg placed 12th for Audi while Valtteri Bottas ended 15th in the Cadillac. Both teams prioritized setup validation over headline times.

Haas and Racing Bulls rounded out the field. Oliver Bearman logged the most laps at 124 for Haas. Liam Lawson managed ninth in the Racing Bulls after gearbox mapping.

Testing concluded ahead of the March 15 season opener in Australia. Verstappen enters as defending champion after four straight titles. Red Bull aims to reclaim dominance following McLaren's late 2025 surge