A Sky Sports F1 insider has offered a revealing look at the expected 2026 grid order, drawing on behind-the-scenes telemetry data gathered during pre-season testing in Bahrain. The final test session wrapped up on Friday, giving teams their last chance to fine-tune performance before the new campaign begins.
Charles Leclerc stole the spotlight on the final day, topping the timesheets with a blistering 1:31.992 lap—the only sub-1:32 time recorded all week. The Ferrari driver also logged 132 laps, underlining both speed and consistency as his team closed testing on a high.
Earlier in the week, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team had set the pace, with George Russell and rising star Kimi Antonelli trading fastest laps. In contrast, Aston Martin F1 Team endured a troubled test, plagued by reliability issues—including a stoppage for Fernando Alonso that even prompted an urgent response from engine partner Honda.
Among the frontrunners, McLaren F1 Team and Red Bull Racing showed solid form, though neither appeared fully dominant. Insights suggest Mercedes may hold a slight edge, with McLaren narrowly ahead of Ferrari due to power unit efficiency, while Red Bull’s in-house engine project has impressed with strong energy deployment.
Further down the order, Alpine F1 Team is tipped to lead the midfield after switching to Mercedes power, closely challenged by Haas F1 Team. Meanwhile, Aston Martin are currently projected at the back of the grid, though there is optimism they could recover as the season unfolds.
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