A Formula 1 driver etched his name into the record books on the final day of pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit. With three weeks of running across Barcelona and Bahrain now complete, preparations for the 2026 season have officially wrapped up ahead of the opening race in Melbourne.
On outright pace, Charles Leclerc led the way for Ferrari with a 1:31.992, finishing ahead of reigning champion Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and George Russell. As expected, Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren appear set to battle at the front when the season begins.
However, the standout story of the day came from rookie Arvid Lindblad. The 18-year-old, who replaces Yuki Tsunoda at Racing Bulls, arrived with high expectations following his rapid rise through the junior ranks. He delivered an eye-catching performance by setting a new record for the most laps completed in a single Bahrain testing day.
Lindblad racked up an impressive 165 laps, surpassing the previous benchmark of 161. The mileage provided invaluable experience ahead of his first Grand Prix appearance, while his quickest effort of 1:34.149 placed him ninth on the final day’s timesheets.
Speaking before his run, Lindblad emphasized that he is not focused on bold predictions for his debut season. Instead, he stressed the importance of preparation — working closely with the team on track and in the simulator — as he gears up for the biggest opportunity of his young career.
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