George Russell set the pace on the first day of Formula 1's final 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain, edging out Oscar Piastri by just 0.010 seconds. The Mercedes driver posted a time of 1:33.459 at the Bahrain International Circuit, bettering the fastest lap from last week's test. Russell's performance highlighted Mercedes' strong start to the new regulations era.

Lewis Hamilton's debut with Ferrari was hampered by a technical issue that limited his running to 44 laps. The seven-time world champion missed 90 minutes of the afternoon session before returning for the final stages. Ferrari had run smoothly in their previous six days of testing, but Hamilton's pace was eight tenths off Russell's benchmark. Red Bull's Isack Hadjar also faced problems, managing just 13 laps in the morning due to a water system issue.

Mercedes and McLaren dominated the day's running, with Russell and teammate Kimi Antonelli combining for 145 laps. The big four teams occupied the top seven positions on the timesheet, suggesting they'll be clear of the midfield at the season opener. Aston Martin struggled with limited running, while 2026 newcomers Cadillac faced reliability issues with Sergio Perez completing only 24 laps. The test continues Thursday with Max Verstappen set to take over Red Bull's running.