Max completes 56 laps on Thursday morning in Bahrain

Published on 19 February 2026 by Kees-Jan Koster

Max Verstappen returned to the cockpit of the RB22, the 2026 car of Oracle Red Bull Racing, on Thursday morning in Bahrain. The Dutchman is on driving duties for the entire day and completed 56 laps in the first four hours, setting a 1:33.584 (P2). George Russell managed the most laps for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team (77 in total), while Lando Norris was quickest in his McLaren with a 1:33.453.

When the lights turn green at 10:00 local time, the air temperature was 21 degrees, with the track at 31 degrees, both rising as the day progressed. It was busy on circuit from the outset: Oliver Bearman, Verstappen, Gabriel Bortoleto, Norris, Lewis Hamilton, Franco Colapinto, Russell and Liam Lawson all headed out on track immediately.

After 45 minutes, Max posted a 1:33.584 on the C3 compound, good enough at the time for P2, just one tenth behind Norris, who had set his fastest lap on the softer tyre. After the first two hours of the morning session, Max had completed 26 laps, while Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac Formula 1 Team) and Hamilton (Scuderia Ferrari) were at the bottom of the timesheets with four and five laps respectively.

Ferrari nevertheless drew attention with an innovative rear wing, featuring an upper element capable of rotating 180 degrees. In theory, this should reduce drag on the straights, potentially resulting in a higher top speed.

After a brief interruption, Max resumed running on the C3 tyre. Notably, the left-hand side of the RB22 was coated with a layer of flow-vis, a special paint used by teams to visualise airflow over the car.

Bortoleto (Audi) and Lawson (Racing Bulls) also spent extended periods in the garage due to issues, costing valuable time and laps. Like Bottas, however, they were ultimately able to gather useful data.

In the final ten minutes of Thursday morning’s session, the ten drivers were given the opportunity to practise starts, which Norris, Russell, Bearman and Hamilton took advantage of.

Max therefore finished second, one tenth behind Norris, after a productive morning. Following the lunch break, Verstappen will resume testing duties. On the final test day ahead of the season, Isack Hadjar will begin proceedings tomorrow morning, before Max takes over the wheel on Friday afternoon.