F1 Pre-Season Testing at Bahrain
The second round of pre-season testing for Formula 1 is currently taking place at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Williams team principal James Vowles expressed satisfaction with his team’s “strong” performance by the end of the first day.
Carlos Sainz Jr. drove in the morning, completing 77 laps in the FW48, the team’s 2026 car. In the afternoon, Alexander Albon added another 68 laps to the team’s tally.
Overall, Williams outperformed all other teams on the first day, clocking in at 145 laps.
During a media session afterwards, Vowles highlighted the distances achieved by both Sainz and Albon, saying, “It was a good day for us in terms of getting a solid feel for the mileage. Our goal was to learn about the chassis and the power unit, making sure we got the laps needed to clear any issues.” He cautioned that challenges lie ahead but emphasized the importance of establishing a good foundation over the next few days to enhance performance. While he noted there weren’t any major issues with the car, he acknowledged that they need to examine the finer details.
Today’s performance was particularly crucial for Williams since they missed the last private test session in Barcelona back in January. The development team chose not to participate in those private tests due to production delays, a decision Vowles described as “one of the hardest things to do.”
In terms of lap times, Albon ended up 10th, while Sainz placed 13th.
Vowles also pointed out an “interesting element” during Wednesday’s tests. He noted, “The winds today were completely different from anything we’ve faced here before, coming from the east to southeast, which caused some troubles, particularly in Turns 1 and 10. On a positive note, the drivers have generally given good feedback. The balance feels acceptable, and since we haven’t done detailed setup work yet, it sets a good starting point for tomorrow.”
Looking ahead, tomorrow marks the second day of testing, offering another opportunity to see Williams and the rest of the teams in action.
