BREAKING: Hamilton sidelined as Verstappen skips session on final day in Bahrain… Read more
Sakhir Shakedown: Hamilton Sidelined as New Eras Dawn on Final Day of Bahrain Testing
The final day of pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit has arrived, marking the last opportunity for teams to refine their challengers before the season opener. With the transition to new technical regulations, the 2026 landscape is coming into sharp focus. While some teams are rotating their line-ups to maximize feedback, others are opting for single-driver endurance runs to test the reliability of the new power units.
Hamilton Sidelined as Leclerc Takes the Reins
The most significant news from the Sakhir paddock is that Lewis Hamilton will miss the entirety of the final day’s testing. Instead, Scuderia Ferrari has assigned Charles Leclerc to solely pilot the SF-26 challenger for the full day. This marathon session for Leclerc suggests a focus on long-run simulations and data correlation as the team prepares for the first Grand Prix.
Strategic Splits at Red Bull and Mercedes
Other top-tier teams are splitting their sessions to give multiple drivers track time. Red Bull Racing has brought Isack Hadjar back for the morning session, with three-time champion Max Verstappen set to return for the final afternoon running.
Mercedes and McLaren are following similar patterns:
Mercedes: Kimi Antonelli will handle the morning duties before handing the car over to George Russell for the evening session.
McLaren: Oscar Piastri kicks off the day’s running, with Lando Norris taking over in the afternoon.
Full-Day Stints for the Midfield
Several teams have opted against rotating drivers to maintain a consistent baseline throughout the day. Carlos Sainz (Williams), Pierre Gasly (Alpine), and Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) will each spend the full eight hours behind the wheel for their respective teams. This approach is often used to simulate a full race weekend’s worth of mileage in a single day.
Official Driver Line-up: Final Day of Testing
The following table provides a clear breakdown of which drivers are on track for each session.
| Team | Morning Session | Evening Session |
|—|—|—|
| Red Bull Racing | Isack Hadjar | Max Verstappen |
| Scuderia Ferrari | Charles Leclerc | Charles Leclerc |
| McLaren | Oscar Piastri | Lando Norris |
| Mercedes | Kimi Antonelli | George Russell |
| Williams | Carlos Sainz | Carlos Sainz |
| Racing Bulls | Arvid Lindblad | Arvid Lindblad |
| Aston Martin | Lance Stroll | Lance Stroll |
| Alpine | Pierre Gasly | Pierre Gasly |
| Audi | Nico Hulkenberg | Gabriel Bortoleto |
| Haas | Esteban Ocon | Oliver Bearman |
| Cadillac | Sergio Perez | Valtteri Bottas |
Final Countdown to the Season Opener
The track action in Sakhir follows a strict schedule, starting at 8 am and concluding at 5 pm CET, with a one-hour lunch break separating the two four-hour blocks. As the sun sets and the floodlights take over, the cooler conditions will provide the most representative data for the upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix. With newcomers like Audi and Cadillac also finishing their final preparations with split driver duties, the hierarchy of the 2026 grid is finally about to be revealed.
Would you like me to create a summary of the fastest lap times once the evening session concludes?
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