Laurence Edmondson

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Laurence Edmondson

Senior Writer, F1• Joined ESPN in 2009
• An FIA accredited F1 journalist since 2011
 and 

Nate Saunders

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Nate Saunders

Senior Writer, F1

Multiple Authors

Feb 12, 2026, 11:24 AM ET

Formula 1’s preseason kicks into overdrive with the first of two tests in Bahrain this week, and you can follow all the action live with ESPN.

The 11 teams got up and running with the all-new-for-2026 cars in a private test in Barcelona in January, but now comes an acid test in the form of two three-day tests in Bahrain.

Mercedes appear to have started on the front foot but are Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari also in the frontrunning picture? And who could pull a surprise with a significantly different package in Bahrain?

– F1 testing: Who has posted fastest times, most laps?
– F1 testing: When and how to watch live, full Bahrain preseason schedule
– Ferrari’s Leclerc quickest on Day 2 as Mercedes, Red Bull struggle

The first test in Bahrain only has an hour of live TV coverage a day, but ESPN are on-site in Sakhir ready to provide all the updates and fastest times, as well as reporting from various media sessions.

Check out all the latest below: