F1 Bahrain Testing: Charles Leclerc units blistering tempo from Lando Norris to complete take a look at on high forward of Australian Grand Prix

Charles Leclerc topped the ultimate day of Method 1 pre-season testing with a blistering lap to underline Ferrari’s standing as real contenders for the opening races of 2026.

Leclerc was 0.879s faster than second-placed Lando Norris, who could possibly be on the backfoot at the beginning of his title defence when the season begins on the Australian Grand Prix on March 6-8, stay on Sky Sports activities F1.

Ferrari elected to run Leclerc all through Friday, with Lewis Hamilton watching on from the storage, and the Monegasque driver additionally impressed along with his race simulation on the final day.

Max Verstappen was third at 1.117s behind Leclerc and George Russell was 1.205s off the Ferrari tempo however Mercedes are nonetheless seen by most within the paddock as favourites for the primary race in Melbourne.

Verstappen gave the impression to be pushing arduous however didn’t have the one lap tempo of Leclerc, whereas Russell was three tenths slower than Mercedes’ finest time of Bahrain testing, which got here from Kimi Antonelli on Thursday – suggesting they have been holding again.

Antonelli ran within the morning session however was restricted to 66 laps because of a lack of pneumatic stress within the engine, which value the Italian teenager over two-and-a-half hours as Mercedes wanted to alter the ability unit.

They managed to get Russell out on monitor comparatively rapidly however he maybe didn’t present his automobile’s true potential on his technique to finishing 82 laps.

Bahrain Take a look at 2 – Day 3 Timesheet


Driver	Staff	Time	Laps
1) Charles Leclerc*	Ferrari	1:31.992	132
2) Lando Norris	McLaren	+0.879	47
3) Max Verstappen	Purple Bull	+1.117	65
4) George Russell	Mercedes	+1.205	82
5) Pierre Gasly*	Alpine	+1.429	118
6) Oliver Bearman	Haas	+1.495	88
7) Gabriel Bortoleto	Audi	+1.763	71
8) Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	+1.924	49
9) Arvid Lindblad*	Racing Bulls	+2.157	165
10) Carlos Sainz*	Williams	+2.350	141
11) Oscar Piastri	McLaren	+2.360	66
12) Esteban Ocon	Haas	+2.502	82
13) Isack Hadjar	Purple Bull	+2.519	59
14) Valtteri Bottas	Cadillac	+3.298	38
15) Nico Hulkenberg	Audi	+4.027	64
16) Sergio Perez	Cadillac	+8.850	61
17) Lance Stroll*	Aston Martin	No time set	6
*Drove in each classes

Extra to observe…

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