The wait is finally over. The revolutionary 2026 Formula 1 season has officially roared – or perhaps whooshed, with the increased electrical power – into life. Today marked the first day of official pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, giving the world its first proper look at the all-new generation of F1 machinery. With sweeping regulation changes, brand-new power units, and a shuffled grid featuring two new teams, anticipation was at an all-time high. The desert sun shone down on a day filled with intense running, technical intrigue, and an early marker laid down by the reigning world champion.

The dawn of this new technical era brought with it cars that are visually distinct from their predecessors – shorter, narrower, and lighter. But the real revolution is under the bodywork. The new power units, featuring a near 50/50 split between internal combustion and electrical power, were the central point of fascination. Teams are not just learning a new chassis; they are mastering an entirely new way of deploying energy around a lap, with novel “boost” and “overtake” buttons for the drivers to manage. The air in the paddock was thick with questions: Who has nailed the new regulations? Which engine manufacturer has the edge? Today provided the very first pieces of that puzzle.

Morning Session: Red Bull Sets an Ominous Tone

As the pit lane lights turned green, there was a collective holding of breath. The morning session was dominated by a familiar sight at the top of the timing screens: Max Verstappen in a Red Bull. The Dutchman, now a four-time champion, wasted no time in getting down to business in the RB22. What was most impressive was not just his outright pace, but the seemingly bulletproof reliability of the new Red Bull-Ford powertrain. Verstappen hammered around the Sakhir circuit, clocking up mileage and gathering invaluable data while others tentatively felt their way into the new era.

It wasn’t just the senior Red Bull team that caught the eye. Rookie Arvid Lindblad, making his debut for the rebranded Racing Bulls team, enjoyed a brief spell at the very top of the timesheets during the first hour. His performance was a promising sign for the Red Bull sister outfit, suggesting their new package has inherent speed. For much of the morning, the focus across the pit lane was clearly on system checks, aero correlations, and simply logging laps to ensure the complex new beasts were holding together.

Afternoon Session: Norris Strikes Back

As the sun began its descent and track temperatures shifted, the afternoon session saw a change in the guard. Lando Norris took over the cockpit of the McLaren from his teammate Oscar Piastri and immediately set about chasing down Verstappen’s benchmark. The Briton, looking to defend his hard-fought 2026 title, put together a string of impressive laps on the softer tyre compounds.

Late in the day, Norris uncorked a 1m 34.669s, a time that would stand as the fastest of Day 1. It was a statement of intent from McLaren, signaling that they have no intention of relinquishing their crown easily. Verstappen improved his own time to finish second, a mere tenth adrift, but his day was defined by his marathon stint. He was the only driver to spend the entire day in the car, racking up a staggering total of over 120 laps – more than two race distances. That kind of reliability on day one of a new regulation cycle is a terrifying prospect for his rivals.

Elsewhere in the afternoon, Haas enjoyed a surprisingly strong day, with Esteban Ocon finishing a very creditable fourth. The session was briefly interrupted by a red flag caused by Nico Hulkenberg stopping on track in his Audi. The German manufacturer, making its high-profile entry into F1, had brought upgrades to the test, but this early gremlin showed the steep learning curve they face. Fortunately, Hulkenberg was able to get going again.

Team-by-Team Notebook

Mercedes: It was a relatively quiet day for the Silver Arrows. Rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli got his first taste of official testing action after a slight delay, putting in solid laps. Lewis Hamilton’s day was more notable for his off-track comments, where he expressed frustration over the lack of a permanent race engineer, a situation he labeled “detrimental” to his preparations. On track, he had a minor off-track moment as he pushed the limits of his new W17.

Ferrari: The Scuderia seemed to be focused squarely on understanding their new challenger. Hamilton’s teammate, Charles Leclerc, logged consistent laps without setting the timing screens ablaze. It feels like Ferrari is keeping its powder dry for now.

Aston Martin: The biggest losers of Day 1. A power unit issue significantly curtailed Lance Stroll’s running, limiting him to a handful of laps. In a season where every minute of testing is gold dust, this is a worrying start for the Silverstone-based team. Fernando Alonso will be hoping for a much better day tomorrow.

Williams: A collective sigh of relief was heard as the Williams car finally hit the track. After missing the Barcelona shakedown due to delays, Carlos Sainz was able to get crucial first laps under his belt. They are playing catch-up, but at least they are in the game.

Newcomers (Audi & Cadillac): Both new teams successfully completed their first public day of running. Aside from Hulkenberg’s brief stoppage, Audi logged decent mileage. Cadillac, with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, also got through their programme, though Bottas did have a small off-track excursion as he explored the limits.

Conclusion: A Tanturaizing Glimpse

Day 1 of the 2026 pre-season test has given us more questions than answers, as is tradition. But a few things are clear: Red Bull’s new engine partnership seems to have hit the ground running with frightening reliability, and McLaren has the raw pace to challenge them. The midfield looks incredibly tight, and some big teams already have headaches to solve.

It’s important to remember that testing times are notoriously unreliable indicators of true form. Fuel loads, engine modes, and test programs vary wildly between teams. Yet, the sight of these futuristic cars on track, the unique sound of their new power units, and the very real battles taking shape has ignited the excitement for the season ahead. With two more days of testing to go, the picture will slowly become clearer. But for now, the new era of Formula 1 has begun with a bang, and the fight is truly on.