Pre-season testing for Formula 1 concluded in Bahrain on Friday, with Charles Leclerc posting the fastest time for Ferrari, while rookie Arvid Lindblad set a single-day record of 165 laps for Racing Bulls.

Leclerc’s best lap of 1:31.992 was 0.879 seconds quicker than Lando Norris in second-place McLaren and the fastest of the three-day second test.

“We ran through our programme and tested everything we planned to,” Leclerc said. “In terms of performance, it’s still difficult to understand where we really stand because teams are hiding their true form, so it’s important not to focus too much on lap times and prepare for the first race.”

Mercedes have suggested Red Bull Racing are the benchmark, also noting Ferrari’s strong starts, while Red Bull positioned themselves further down the order, highlighting Mercedes as slightly ahead. The true pecking order should emerge when racing begins in Australia on March 8.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull, 1.117 seconds off the pace, while pre-season favourite George Russell finished fourth for Mercedes, well behind Kimi Antonelli’s Thursday best of 1:32.803.

“I think it is obvious we still have a lot of work to do to be faster, and this is what we’ll focus on,” Verstappen said.

Leclerc spent the full day in the car, completing 135 laps at the Sakhir Circuit, while teammate and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton observed from the garage.

Pierre Gasly was fifth fastest for Alpine F1 Team, last overall in 2025, followed by Oliver Bearman in sixth for Haas F1 Team, and Gabriel Bortoleto seventh for Audi, which replaces Sauber on the grid this season.

Arvid Lindblad, the only rookie this season, finished ninth and set a new Bahrain single-day record of 165 laps in the Racing Bulls car, powered by the new Red Bull engine, surpassing Oscar Piastri’s previous 161-lap record set last week for McLaren.

At the other end, Aston Martin F1 Team struggled, completing only six laps. Lance Stroll was scheduled to run the full day but failed to set a time due to a battery problem.

“It’s clear the car isn’t where we want it performance-wise, and we know there’s a lot of work ahead in the coming weeks and months,” Stroll said.