Kimi Antonelli Tops Day 2 of Bahrain Pre-Season Test, Surpassing Piastri and Verstappen

During the second day of the 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain, Kimi Antonelli emerged as the fastest driver. The Mercedes racer led the timesheets ahead of notable competitors Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen.

Kimi Antonelli Takes Top Spot on Day 2

Antonelli’s fastest lap was clocked at 1m 32.803s, outperforming McLaren’s Piastri, who finished just 0.058 seconds behind. Red Bull’s Verstappen, despite achieving the highest lap count of 139, ended the day in third place, over three-tenths slower than Antonelli.

Key Highlights from the Day

• Top Times:
  • Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes): 1m 32.803s
  • Oscar Piastri (McLaren): 1m 32.861s
  • Max Verstappen (Red Bull): 1m 33.155s
• Session Overview:
  • Lewis Hamilton was the first on track for the afternoon session.
  • Fernando Alonso caused a red flag, stopping his Aston Martin midway through the afternoon.
  • Practice sessions included multiple drivers switching to soft tyres for optimal performance.

As the session progressed, drivers were keen to improve their lap times in warmer conditions. Hamilton and Franco Colapinto of Alpine both faced lock-ups as they pushed their limits.

Driver Performance Insights

Piastri briefly took the lead before Antonelli reclaimed the top spot in the final hour. Hamilton and Norris also had strong sessions, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively. The testing day concluded with teams practicing start light procedures.

• Final Standings of Notable Drivers:
  • 4th: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
  • 5th: Lando Norris (McLaren)
  • 6th: Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
  • 7th: Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
  • 8th: George Russell (Mercedes)
  • 9th: Esteban Ocon (Haas)
  • 10th: Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

Additionally, Williams’ Alex Albon closed the day in 11th position, while Gabriel Bortoleto and Ollie Bearman followed behind. Notably, Alonso completed only 68 laps due to his early track stoppage.

Looking Ahead

With one day of testing remaining, teams will have another chance to fine-tune their vehicles before the Australian Grand Prix, scheduled for March 6-8. This final day is crucial for gathering data and achieving competitive lap times ahead of the season opener.