It was the second day of F1 2026 testing in Bahrain, where the headline act was arguably a blunt expression of opinion for Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.<\/p>\n
Verstappen<\/a> failed to shut the door on leaving Formula 1 over what he dubbed its new \u201canti-racing\u201d regulations, while Norris told Verstappen that \u201che can retire\u201d if he wants to. All this and more on a very busy day of F1 news, so let\u2019s get to it.<\/p>\n Max Verstappen hits out at F1 regulations<\/p>\n Verstappen is not a fan at this stage of the new Formula 1. The sport\u2019s revamped driving dynamics are not impressing the Dutchman, with energy management set to play a key role in F1 2026.<\/p>\n Verstappen described the new rules as \u201canti-racing\u201d regulations, or to put it another way, \u201cFormula E on steroids.\u201d<\/p>\n Read more \u2013 Max Verstappen fails to rule out quitting F1 over 2026 \u2018anti-racing\u2019 regulations<\/a><\/p>\n Lando Norris in \u2018he can retire\u2019 Max Verstappen retort<\/p>\n Norris was equally as blunt in his response to Verstappen\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n Norris, who stated that he is having fun with the new cars, said that Verstappen \u201ccan retire\u201d if that is what he wants to do.<\/p>\n Read more \u2013 Lando Norris fires blunt \u2018he can retire\u2019 reaction at Max Verstappen over F1 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Charles Leclerc tops Day 2 in Bahrain<\/p>\n Aside from all of that, there were cars on track in Bahrain as the second day of testing played out.<\/p>\n Charles Leclerc\u2019s P1 time from the morning session withstood as the day\u2019s fastest time, with no less than 5 red flags shown. There was disruption for the likes of Red Bull, Mercedes and Alpine.<\/p>\n Read more \u2013 Bahrain Test Day 2: Leclerc fastest as five red flags interrupt second day of F1 2026 testing<\/a><\/p>\n Toto Wolff claims \u2018second per lap\u2019 Red Bull RB22 advantage<\/p>\n Said advantage, according to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, is related to Red Bull\u2019s superior battery deployment, which he believes is worth a second per lap down the straights for its RB22.<\/p>\n Wolff has declared Red Bull to be F1 2026\u2019s \u201cbenchmark\u201d package.<\/p>\n