How to watch the second pre-season test in Bahrain

It’s almost time for the final pre-season test of 2026, as teams continue their preparations for next month’s curtain-raising Australian Grand Prix. Here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening, and how to follow the action…

Where is the test being held?

As touched on above, F1’s 11 teams and 22 drivers will be back at the Bahrain International Circuit for the second and final pre-season test, having already completed three days of running in the Sakhir desert last week.

It is the same 5.412-kilometre layout used for the Bahrain Grand Prix, with 57 laps representing a race distance – that milestone number being one to look out for when it comes to the amount of mileage drivers complete each day.

What are the session times?

Drivers will be racking up those laps across ‘morning’ and ‘afternoon’ sessions on Wednesday 18th, Thursday 19th and Friday 20th, following the same pattern as last week’s gathering.

The morning session will run from 1000-1400 local time, before a mandated one-hour lunch break, with the afternoon session taking place from 1500-1900 local time, during which the sun sets and the track floodlights switch on.

Run plans are entirely up to the teams, with some opting to give their drivers a full day each and split the other, while some decide to split each and every day (with seat and car changes being made over lunch).

What can I watch, and where?

At last week’s test, the final hour of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s running was shown live on F1 TV, but for the second test, all eight hours of track action will be aired on the platform every day, meaning you can follow what happens from start to finish.

In addition to uninterrupted coverage of the morning and afternoon sessions, there will be end-of-day wrap up shows from the F1 TV team in the Bahrain paddock, as well as plenty of interviews with drivers and team personnel.

What else will be available?

As always, F1.com is offering accompanying coverage throughout test, including an interactive live blog, live timing and session reports, along with Tech Talk features, news updates and much, much more.

Whether you want to see the latest lap times and lap counts, find out how each team’s programme is developing, get the scoop on car upgrades or hear from the drivers themselves, we will be sharing it all directly with you.

What happens next?

After this week’s test, attention will swiftly turn to the first round of the 2026 F1 campaign, when the battle for the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships officially begins.

Just two weeks separate the end of the Bahrain gathering and the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, which will be held at Melbourne’s Albert Park from March 6-8.