Mercedes driver George Russell set the pace on the first day of the second pre-season test of F1 2026 at the Bahrain International Circuit. Here is a selection of photos, mostly taken by our Federico Basile, but some were supplied by Red Bull and by Pirelli
Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Sam Bagnall/Sutton Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //Isack Hadjar of France driving the (6) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22 Red Bull Ford on track during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Joe Portlock/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Paul Monaghan, Head of Car Engineering of Oracle Red Bull Racing in the garage during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //Gianpiero Lambiase, Head of Racing of Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on in the garage during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //Enrico Balbo, Head of Aerodynamics of Oracle Red Bull Racing and Gianpiero Lambiase, Head of Racing of Oracle Red Bull Racing look on in the garage during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //Enrico Balbo, Head of Aerodynamics of Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on in the garage during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //Piero Ferrari, son of Enzo Ferrari founder of Ferrari Spa and Scuderia Ferrari, now vice President of Ferrari, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 2026Mattia Binotto Chief Operating and Chief Technical Officer at Audi F1 Team, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202641 Arvid Lindblad, (GRB), Visa CashApp Racing Bulls, VCARB 03 Red Bull-Ford, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 2026Piero Ferrari, soon of Enzo Ferrari founder of Ferrari Spa and Scuderia Ferrari, now vice President of Ferrari, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202663 George Russell, (GRB), INEOS AMG Mercedes W17, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202663 George Russell, (GRB), INEOS AMG Mercedes W17, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202606 Isack Hadjar, (FRA), Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22, Red Bull-Ford, during the Winter testing days 2, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 2026Piero Ferrari, soon of Enzo Ferrari founder of Ferrari Spa and Scuderia Ferrari, now vice President of Ferrari, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202606 Isack Hadjar, (FRA), Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22, Red Bull-Ford, during the Winter testing days 2, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202616 Charles Leclerc, (MON), Scuderia Ferrari SF26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202616 Charles Leclerc, (MON), Scuderia Ferrari SF26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202687 Oliver Bearman, (GRB), Haas TGR F1 Team VF26, talk with Flavy Barla girlfriend of Esteban Ocon during the Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202687 Oliver Bearman, (GRB), Haas TGR F1 Team VF26, talk with Flavy Barla girlfriend of Esteban Ocon during the Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202641 Arvid Lindblad, (GRB), Visa CashApp Racing Bulls, VCARB 03 Red Bull-Ford, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202601 Lando Norris, (GRB), McLaren Mercedes MCL40, during the Winter testing days 2, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202605 Gabriel Bortoleto, (BRA), Revolut Audi F1 Team R26, during the Winter testing days 2, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202644 Lewis Hamilton, (GRB), Scuderia Ferrari SF26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202644 Lewis Hamilton, (GRB), Scuderia Ferrari SF26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 2026Flavy Barla, Girlfriend of Esteban Ocon driver of Haas f1 Team, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202623 Alex Albon, (GRB), Williams Mercedes Fw48, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202614 Fernando Alonso, (ESP), Aramco Aston Martin Honda AMR26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202606 Isack Hadjar, (FRA), Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22, Red Bull-Ford, during the Winter testing days 2, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202616 Charles Leclerc, (MON), Scuderia Ferrari SF26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202612 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, (ITA), INEOS AMG Mercedes W17, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202611 Sergio Perez, (MEX), Cadillac Ferrari F1 Team, during the Winter testing days 2, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202612 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, (ITA), INEOS AMG Mercedes W17, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202614 Fernando Alonso, (ESP), Aramco Aston Martin Honda AMR26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202612 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, (ITA), INEOS AMG Mercedes W17, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202641 Arvid Lindblad, (GRB), Visa CashApp Racing Bulls, VCARB 03 Red Bull-Ford, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202610 Pierre Gasly, (FRA), BWT Alpine Mercedes F1 Team A526, during the Winter testing days 2, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202631 Esteban Ocon, (FRA), Haas TGR F1 Team VF26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202644 Lewis Hamilton, (GRB), Scuderia Ferrari SF26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202644 Lewis Hamilton, (GRB), Scuderia Ferrari SF26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202603 Max Verstappen, (NED), Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22, Red Bull-Ford, during the Winter testing days 2, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202614 Fernando Alonso, (ESP), Aramco Aston Martin Honda AMR26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202677 Valtteri Bottas, (FIN), Cadillac Ferrari F1 Team, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202644 Lewis Hamilton, (GRB), Scuderia Ferrari SF26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202614 Fernando Alonso, (ESP), Aramco Aston Martin Honda AMR26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202644 Lewis Hamilton, (GRB), Scuderia Ferrari SF26, with Max Verstappen and Gabriel Bortoleto during the press conference Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202644 Lewis Hamilton, (GRB), Scuderia Ferrari SF26, with Fernando Alonso and Valtteri Bottas during the press conference Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202644 Lewis Hamilton, (GRB), Scuderia Ferrari SF26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202612 Andrea Kimi Antonelli, (ITA), INEOS AMG Mercedes W17, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202630 Liam Lawson, (NZL), Visa CashApp Racing Bulls, VCARB 03 Red Bull-Ford, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202663 George Russell, (GRB), INEOS AMG Mercedes W17, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202663 George Russell, (GRB), INEOS AMG Mercedes W17, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 2026Simone Resta, strategic development director at Mercedes, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202616 Charles Leclerc, (MON), Scuderia Ferrari SF26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 2026Piero Ferrari, son of Enzo Ferrari founder of Ferrari Spa and Scuderia Ferrari, now vice President of Ferrari, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202644 Lewis Hamilton, (GRB), Scuderia Ferrari SF26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202687 Oliver Bearman, (GRB), Haas TGR F1 Team VF26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 2026Flavio Briatore, former Renault team principal, and now Alpine F1 team consultant, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202677 Valtteri Bottas, (FIN), Cadillac Ferrari F1 Team, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202655 Carlos Sainz, (ESP), Williams Mercedes Fw48, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 2026Nicolas Todt, manager of Charles Leclerc, and son of Jean Todt, former FIA president and Ferrari team principal, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202644 Lewis Hamilton, (GRB), Scuderia Ferrari SF26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 2026Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal of the Scuderia Ferrari, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202630 Liam Lawson, (NZL), Visa CashApp Racing Bulls, VCARB 03 Red Bull-Ford, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202655 Carlos Sainz, (ESP), Williams Mercedes Fw48, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202663 George Russell, (GRB), INEOS AMG Mercedes W17, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202663 George Russell, (GRB), INEOS AMG Mercedes W17, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202630 Liam Lawson, (NZL), Visa CashApp Racing Bulls, VCARB 03 Red Bull-Ford, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202663 George Russell, (GRB), INEOS AMG Mercedes W17, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202643 Franco Colapinto, (ARG), BWT Alpine Mercedes F1 Team A526, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202630 Liam Lawson, (NZL), Visa CashApp Racing Bulls, VCARB 03 Red Bull-Ford, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202605 Gabriel Bortoleto, (BRA), Revolut Audi F1 Team R26, during the Winter testing days 2, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202643 Franco Colapinto, (ARG), BWT Alpine Mercedes F1 Team A526, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202630 Liam Lawson, (NZL), Visa CashApp Racing Bulls, VCARB 03 Red Bull-Ford, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202687 Oliver Bearman, (GRB), Haas TGR F1 Team VF26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202663 George Russell, (GRB), INEOS AMG Mercedes W17, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202687 Oliver Bearman, (GRB), Haas TGR F1 Team VF26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202644 Lewis Hamilton, (GRB), Scuderia Ferrari SF26, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202663 George Russell, (GRB), INEOS AMG Mercedes W17, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 202630 Liam Lawson, (NZL), Visa CashApp Racing Bulls, VCARB 03 Red Bull-Ford, Formula 1 World Championship 2026 Bahrain 18-20 February 2026Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Scuderia Ferrari SF-26 on track during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images for Pirelli)Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren MCL40 Mercedes on track during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Steven Tee/LAT Images for Pirelli)Arvid Lindblad of Great Britain driving the (41) Visa Cash App Racing Bulls VCARB 03 RB Ford on track during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Joe Portlock/Getty Images for Pirelli)Esteban Ocon of France driving the (31) Haas F1 VF-26 Ferrari on track during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Joe Portlock/Getty Images for Pirelli)Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Cadillac F1 Team Ferrari on track during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Joe Portlock/Getty Images for Pirelli)Charles Leclerc of Monaco driving the (16) Scuderia Ferrari SF-26 on track during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Steven Tee/LAT Images for Pirelli)Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy driving the (12) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W17 on track during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Steven Tee/LAT Images for Pirelli)Lando Norris of Great Britain driving the (1) McLaren MCL40 Mercedes on track during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Steven Tee/LAT Images for Pirelli)Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy driving the (12) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W17 on track during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images for Pirelli)Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Cadillac F1 Team Ferrari on track during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images for Pirelli)Fernando Alonso of Spain driving the (14) Aston Martin F1 Team AMR26 Honda on track during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Joe Portlock/Getty Images for Pirelli)Nico Hulkenberg of Germany driving the (27) Audi F1 Team R26 on track during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Joe Portlock/Getty Images for Pirelli)Isack Hadjar of France driving the (6) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22 Red Bull Ford leaves the garage during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //Isack Hadjar of France and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on in the garage during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //Pierre Wache, Technical Director of Oracle Red Bull Racing and Isack Hadjar of France and Oracle Red Bull Racing in the garage during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //Isack Hadjar of France driving the (6) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22 Red Bull Ford on track during day one of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 18, 2026 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Sona Maleterova/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool //
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