Formula 1: Teams begin to shape their impressions during testing in Bahrain

The first official tests of the 2026 Formula 1 season kick off this Wednesday in Sakhir, Bahrain. The eleven teams are gearing up to evaluate the reliability of the new cars, which now feature a power unit that balances thermal and electric power at 50%-50%. After five days of private testing in Barcelona, where Lewis Hamilton posted the best unofficial time of 1’16’’348, the focus is on confirming those early promises. Mercedes, having covered 2320 km, and Alpine, with nearly 1700 km, are showing strong performances. Williams and Aston Martin, looking to make up for a tough start, hope to reassure their fans. The testing times will provide some insights, but we need to be cautious about drawing conclusions. The teams are keeping a close watch on each other, and the mystery remains regarding the amount of fuel and engine modes being used. The next meeting is set for the final tests from February 18 to 20 before the season kicks off in Melbourne.