Leclerc Dominates Bahrain Test Session as Aston Martin Faces Fresh Setbacks
Charles Leclerc continued his impressive pre-season form by claiming the fastest time during the final morning session of testing in Bahrain ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The Ferrari driver's strong showing marked his third session victory in two weeks, while Aston Martin encountered additional technical difficulties that severely limited their track running.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc has reaffirmed his status as one of the standout performers of the pre-season testing programme, posting the quickest lap during the closing morning of running in Bahrain as teams prepare for the 2026 campaign.
The Monegasque ace demonstrated commanding pace early in the session, clocking a time of 1m33.689s on the C3 compound and establishing himself at the head of the timesheets. This latest achievement extends Leclerc's impressive streak, making it three separate test sessions topped by the Ferrari driver over the past fortnight.
Beyond his headline-grabbing pace, Leclerc's morning proved productive in terms of workload completion. However, the day proved far more troublesome for Aston Martin, who endured ongoing reliability concerns that severely hampered their ability to accumulate meaningful data in Bahrain. The team managed just two laps across the session, continuing a frustrating pattern of technical issues that has plagued their pre-season preparations as they look ahead to the competitive 2026 season.
Original source
Motorsport.com
Related Regulations
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Full Regulation Text
Article B11.2.7
TCC Opportunities
Chapter: B
In Simple Terms
Teams are limited to specific testing opportunities throughout the year: one private 5-day test and two public 3-day tests before the season starts, plus a 1-day test after the season ends. They can also do tire testing (up to 40 car days) and one 1-day substitute driver test. These rules prevent teams from gaining unfair advantages through excessive testing.
- Pre-season testing limited to one 5-day private test and two 3-day public tests
- Post-season testing restricted to one 1-day test only
- Out-of-competition tire testing capped at 40 car days maximum
- One additional 1-day test allowed for substitute drivers
Official FIA Text
TCC limited to pre-season private collective testing (one 5-day test), pre-season public collective testing (two 3-day tests), post-season test (one 1-day test), out-of-competition tyre testing (maximum 40 car days), and substitute driver test (one 1-day test).
Article B11.2.1
TCC General Conditions
Chapter: B
In Simple Terms
Teams can conduct TCC (Tyre Compatibility Check) testing on European circuits for a maximum of 9 continuous hours between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM, but only when there's no championship competition happening. Teams need permission if they want to do it differently.
- Maximum 9 continuous hours allowed per TCC session
- Testing window is 09:00 to 19:00 (9 AM to 7 PM)
- Only permitted on European circuits
- Cannot take place during championship competition weekends
Official FIA Text
TCC may only take place for maximum continuous nine hours between 09:00 and 19:00 on European circuits unless agreed otherwise, while no championship competition is taking place.
Article B11.2
Provisions for TCC
Chapter: B
In Simple Terms
TCC (Testing of Current Cars) sessions on European tracks are limited to a maximum of 9 hours per day, running between 9 AM and 7 PM. Only current-season F1 cars can be used (except for special tire testing), and drivers without a super license must use cars with a blue-green rear light.
- TCC sessions on European circuits limited to maximum 9 hours daily between 09:00-19:00
- Only current F1 cars permitted, except during out-of-competition tire testing
- Non-super license drivers must use cars equipped with blue-green rear light
- TCC restricted to specific testing types: pre-season testing, post-season test, tire testing, and substitute driver tests
Official FIA Text
TCC running limited to maximum nine hours between 09:00 and 19:00 on European circuits. Only current cars permitted except for out-of-competition tyre testing. Cars driven by non-super licence holders must have blue-green rear light. TCC limited to pre-season private/public collective testing, post-season test, out-of-competition tyre testing, and substitute driver test.
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