{"id":488596,"date":"2026-02-18T20:25:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T20:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/488596\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T20:25:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T20:25:08","slug":"f1-testing-results-bahrain-timesheets-as-russell-dominates-on-day-fia-proposes-new-engine-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/488596\/","title":{"rendered":"F1 Testing Results: Bahrain timesheets as Russell dominates on day FIA proposes new engine test"},"content":{"rendered":"

The second week of F1 testing at the Bahrain International Circuit<\/a> has commenced with George Russell and Mercedes back on top after the FIA proposed a new engine test. <\/p>\n

\nThe British star topped the timesheets on Wednesday in Bahrain with a 1:33.459, but bigger news took place off the racetrack and could have severe implications on Mercedes<\/a>‘ season after the controversy surrounding the geometric compression ratio trick in their power unit. <\/p>\n

\nREAD MORE: Lewis Hamilton grilled by F1 rival about Kim Kardashian relationship<\/a> <\/p>\n

\nFollowing an F1 Commission meeting which also took place on Wednesday, the FIA announced that a proposal has been put forward to measure compression ratios at both high temperatures and ambient temperatures<\/a>, with power unit manufacturers due to vote on whether to introduce that rule or not. <\/p>\n

\nThere was also drama on track on the first day of the second week testing stint when Aston Martin star Lance Stroll caused a red flag in the afternoon<\/a>, veering off into the gravel at Turn 11 and provoking concern that a previous hand injury could resurface. <\/p>\n

\nLewis Hamilton<\/a>‘s afternoon running was also thrown into jeopardy when the screens were spotted up in front of the Ferrari<\/a> garage, with the team working on his car. <\/p>\n

\nThe Brit managed to get back out on track 90 minutes later after the delay, accompanied by a hefty splatter of flow-vis paint on his SF-26. By the end of the day, Hamilton managed to complete 44 laps and set the seventh best time of a 1:34.299. <\/p>\n

\nIsack Hadjar was plagued by technical issues in the RB22 throughout the morning session, experiencing a water system issue that kept the Frenchman off the track for a considerable amount of time. <\/p>\n

\nThe Red Bull star only completed 13 laps in the first half of the day, as concerns over reliability mount especially after a hydraulics leak last week hampered Hadjar’s running<\/a> too. <\/p>\n

\nHowever, Max Verstappen<\/a>‘s new team-mate managed to pick up an additional 53 laps in the afternoon after a difficult start to his week in Bahrain. <\/p>\n

\nVerstappen himself was not part of Wednesday’s running plan for Red Bull, and instead will enjoy a full day in the RB22 on Thursday while Hadjar will sit out the day. <\/p>\n

F1 Testing Results – Bahrain Week Two – Day One
\n
\nF1 Pre-season testing results: Day two
\n
\n
\n Position
\n Driver
\n Team
\n Time
\n Laps completed
\n
\n
\n
\n 1George Russell<\/a>Mercedes1:33.45976 laps
\n 2Oscar PiastriMcLaren<\/a>1:33.46970 laps
\n 3Charles Leclerc<\/a>Ferrari1:33.73970 laps
\n 4Lando Norris<\/a>McLaren1:34.05254 laps
\n 5Kimi AntonelliMercedes1:34.15869 laps
\n 6Isack HadjarRed Bull1:34.26066 laps
\n 7Lewis HamiltonFerrari1:34.29944 laps
\n 8Carlos Sainz<\/a>Williams<\/a>1:35.11355 laps
\n 9Franco ColapintoAlpine1:35.25460 laps
\n 10Gabriel BortoletoAudi1:35.51171 laps
\n 11Alex AlbonWilliams1:35.69055 laps
\n 12Liam LawsonRacing Bulls1:35.75361 laps
\n 13Ollie BearmanHaas<\/a>1:35.77842 laps
\n 14Pierre Gasly<\/a>Alpine1:35.89861 laps
\n 15Lance Stroll<\/a>Aston Martin1:35.97426 laps
\n 16Esteban Ocon<\/a>Haas1:36.41865 laps
\n 17Fernando Alonso<\/a>Aston Martin1:36.53628 laps
\n 18Nico HulkenbergAudi1:36.74149 laps
\n 19Arvid LindbladRacing Bulls1:36.76975 laps
\n 20Valtteri Bottas<\/a>Cadillac1:37.24635 laps
\n 21Sergio Perez<\/a>Cadillac1:38.19124 laps
\n <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWho’s driving for the F1 teams in Bahrain?
\n
\nBahrain F1 Testing Lineup
\n
\n
\n Team
\n Wed AM
\n Wed PM
\n Thu AM
\n Thu PM
\n Fri AM
\n Fri PM
\n
\n
\n
\n McLaren
\n Lando Norris
\n Oscar Piastri
\n Lando Norris
\n Oscar Piastri
\n Oscar Piastri
\n Lando Norris
\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n Mercedes
\n Kimi Antonelli
\n George Russell
\n George Russell
\n Kimi Antonelli
\n Kimi Antonelli
\n George Russell
\n
\n Red Bull
\n Isack Hadjar
\n Isack Hadjar
\n Max Verstappen
\n Max Verstappen
\n Isack Hadjar
\n Max Verstappen
\n
\n Ferrari
\n Charles Leclerc
\n Lewis Hamilton
\n TBC
\n TBC
\n TBC
\n TBC
\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n Williams
\n Alex Albon
\n Carlos Sainz
\n Alex Albon
\n Alex Albon
\n Carlos Sainz
\n Carlos Sainz
\n
\n Racing Bulls
\n Arvid Lindblad
\n Liam Lawson
\n Liam Lawson
\n Liam Lawson
\n Arvid Lindblad
\n Arvid Lindblad
\n
\n Aston Martin
\n Lance Stroll
\n Fernando Alonso
\n Fernando Alonso
\n Fernando Alonso
\n Lance Stroll
\n Lance Stroll
\n
\n Haas
\n Esteban Ocon
\n Oliver Bearman
\n Oliver Bearman
\n Esteban Ocon
\n Esteban Ocon
\n Oliver Bearman
\n
\n Audi
\n Nico Hulkenberg
\n Gabriel Bortoleto
\n Gabriel Bortoleto
\n Nico Hulkenberg
\n Nico Hulkenberg
\n Gabriel Bortoleto
\n
\n Alpine
\n Franco Colapinto
\n Pierre Gasly
\n Pierre Gasly
\n Pierre Gasly
\n Franco Colapinto
\n Franco Colapinto
\n
\n Cadillac
\n Sergio Perez
\n Valtteri Bottas
\n Valtteri Bottas
\n Sergio Perez
\n Sergio Perez
\n Valtteri Bottas
\n <\/p>\n

When does the 2026 F1 season start?<\/p>\n

\nAfter the first round of pre-season tests in Bahrain took place between February 11 and 13, the second round continues this week between February 18 and February 20. <\/p>\n

\nAll 11 teams will then be back in action when the 2026 season starts in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix<\/a>. The first race of the year takes place on March 8 at 3pm local time (AEDT), 4am GMT, and 11pm ET. <\/p>\n

\nF1 Testing 2026: Bahrain schedule, start times and how to watch it all LIVE<\/a><\/p>\n

Related\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The second week of F1 testing at the Bahrain International Circuit has commenced with George Russell and Mercedes…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":488597,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[573],"tags":[64,63,13275,817,228327,826,813,816,1384,10114,44,51043,918,11525,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-488596","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-formula-1","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-charles-leclerc","11":"tag-f1","12":"tag-f1-testing-2026","13":"tag-ferrari","14":"tag-formula-1","15":"tag-formula1","16":"tag-gpfans","17":"tag-isack-hadjar","18":"tag-news","19":"tag-pre-season-testing","20":"tag-red-bull","21":"tag-sheona-mountford","22":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/488596","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=488596"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/488596\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/488597"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=488596"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=488596"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=488596"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}