Leclerc Ends Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Fastest Overall

Charles Leclerc of Ferrari concluded pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit by setting the fastest overall lap time across the three-day event. Leclerc's final time on the concluding day was 1m 31.992s, also positioning him as the fastest driver on Day Two of testing. Teams utilized the testing period for various programs, including race simulations and extended stints.

Overall Testing Highlights

Charles Leclerc, driving for Ferrari, recorded the fastest overall lap time of the entire pre-season testing event in Bahrain.

His final lap time of 1m 31.992s on the concluding day established him as the quickest driver across all three days of testing. This time was 0.879s faster than the next recorded best time by Lando Norris.

Final Day (Day Three) Summary

On the final day of testing, Charles Leclerc led the timings, securing the fastest overall lap time of the test. Driving the SF-26, Leclerc initially posted a lap time of 1m 33.629s during the afternoon session. He subsequently improved this to 1m 32.655s, and later to his ultimate best of 1m 31.992s.

During the final day, track conditions improved, contributing to increased pace from several drivers. Other participants, including Carlos Sainz of Williams and rookie Arvid Lindblad in the Racing Bulls car, focused on conducting extended stints. Sainz was noted as the first driver to utilize the C5 soft tires.

Teams conducted diverse testing programs, with many concentrating on race simulations as Friday's running concluded. A practice race start lights procedure was also conducted before the chequered flag, aligning with procedures observed on previous test days.

Day Two Performance

On the second day of pre-season testing, Charles Leclerc also achieved the fastest lap time. His benchmark time for Day Two was 1m 34.273s, which was set during the morning session and remained the quickest throughout that specific day. Lando Norris of McLaren secured the second-fastest time on Day Two, followed by Haas driver Ollie Bearman in third.