Russell sets the quickest lap of pre-season testing to top final morning in Bahrain
George Russell set the pace during the morning session on the third and final day of the opening Formula 1 pre‑season test in Bahrain, producing a best lap of 1m33.918s after completing 78 laps in the Mercedes.
The Briton's time was not only the fastest of the morning but also the quickest recorded across all three days of running so far, giving Mercedes a strong headline figure after a difficult start to the test.
Lewis Hamilton followed in second place for Ferrari with a lap of 1m34.209s, finishing 0.291 seconds behind Russell after completing 69 laps. Hamilton was the first driver to head out when the session began, taking over from Charles Leclerc, who had topped Thursday’s running. His early laps helped Ferrari gather data quickly as track temperatures began to rise.
Max Verstappen ended the session in third position for Red Bull, setting a time of 1m35.341s, which placed him 1.423 seconds behind Russell. Verstappen completed 61 laps, giving Red Bull a solid mileage total as they continued to evaluate their updated aerodynamic package.
Most teams joined the track within the opening minutes, with Lance Stroll the last to appear in the Aston Martin. Stroll eventually completed 54 laps, finishing the session in tenth place with a best time of 1m38.423s, which left him 4.505 seconds off Russell’s benchmark.
The first and only red flag of the morning was triggered when Valtteri Bottas’ Cadillac stopped on track. Before the stoppage, Bottas had completed only a handful of laps, but he eventually returned to the circuit and ended the session with 37 laps and a best time of 1m38.772s, placing him 4.854 seconds behind Russell in eleventh position.
Several drivers pushed the limits as the track evolved. Gabriel Bortoleto ran wide at the final corner in the Audi but still managed to complete 60 laps, finishing ninth with a time of 1m38.251s, which put him 4.333 seconds off the top.
Liam Lawson also had a slide at the same corner but recovered to complete an impressive 84 laps, the highest total of the morning. Lawson’s best time of 1m37.238s placed him eighth, 3.320 seconds behind Russell.
Haas enjoyed a productive session with Oliver Bearman, who completed 70 laps and set a best time of 1m35.972s, finishing fourth and 2.054 seconds off the fastest lap.
Oscar Piastri added 73 laps for McLaren and recorded a 1m36.390s, placing him fifth and 2.472 seconds behind Russell. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto completed 64 laps and set a 1m36.874s, ending the session sixth with a gap of 2.956 seconds.
Williams also logged strong mileage, with Carlos Sainz completing 68 laps and setting a 1m37.186s, which placed him seventh and 3.268 seconds behind the Mercedes at the top.
By the end of the session, the lap counts across the field ranged from Lawson’s 84 laps at the high end to Bottas’ 37 laps at the low end, while the gaps from Russell’s leading time stretched from Hamilton’s narrow 0.291‑second deficit to Bottas’ 4.854‑second margin.
