Overview
- Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli clocked the fastest time on the second day of Bahrain testing ahead of Oscar Piastri, with Max Verstappen and Lando Norris also featuring near the top while Lewis Hamilton recovered to fifth after limited morning running.
- Ferrari paused early with Hamilton’s car before resuming to test new parts, building on high‑mileage work and a recently revealed small flap ahead of the exhaust that observers estimate could be worth roughly 0.15–0.25s per lap and difficult to copy quickly.
- The FIA announced an electronic vote to change compression checks to 130°C from August, a move that could trigger hardware or mapping revisions as soon as the third power unit and intensifies scrutiny of Mercedes’ contested approach.
- True performance remains obscured as teams manage energy and hide deployment, with paddock talk highlighting the efficiency of Red Bull Powertrains’ new Ford‑linked unit and Mercedes’ earlier quick race simulation as conflicting indicators.
- Reliability and operations continue to shape preparations, with recent cooling, sensor and power unit glitches reported in Bahrain and ongoing discussions about start procedures under the 2026 regulations.