SAKHIR, Bahrain: Two-time champion Fernando Alonso continued to set the pace at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday when he outpaced Max Verstappen in an intriguing third and final practice.
The 41-year-old Spaniard, revelling in the performance of his vastly-improved Aston Martin car, clocked a best lap of 1 minute 32.340 seconds to edge Red Bull’s two-time defending world champion by 0.005 seconds.
The Dutchman’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez was third ahead of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and George Russell in the second Mercedes.
Lance Stroll, looking recovered from his wrist injuries after a pre-season cycling accident, was seventh in the second Aston Martin, ahead of Carlos Sainz in the second Ferrari and rookie Oscar Piastri of McLaren, who was not born when Alonso made his F1 debut in Melbourne 22 years ago.
Pierre Gasly was 10th for Alpine.
Verstappen and Red Bull appeared unperturbed by this relatively minor setback, but Alonso’s continued near-perfect form and calm demeanour suggested the champions may struggle again at one of their least-favorite circuits.
The Dutchman has never won a season opening race or in Bahrain, after nine attempts, while Red Bull have not triumphed at the Bahrain International Circuit for ten years.
On another hot day at Sakhir, with a track temperature of 42 degrees Celsius delivering challenging and unrepresentative conditions, there was no rush out of the pitlane at the start.
When Russell joined the fray after 10 minutes, he was only the fourth man on track, but his arrival sparked others to venture out.
Hamilton soon topped the times ahead of Leclerc as Ferrari and Mercedes duelled for speed.
After delaying his arrival, Alonso made an immediate impact and was top after 55 minutes on softs as Verstappen joined in, going fifth on hard tires and complaining of lack of grip.
In the extreme conditions, it was little surprise the hard compounds failed to perform as Stroll took over at the top, ahead of his Aston Martin team-mate, with 15 minutes remaining.
Mercedes then switched to softs and Hamilton and Russell took over before Verstappen and then Alonso outpaced them to go first and second.
Told he had taken P1, Alonso gave a laconic reply. “Oh, really?” he drawled.
As a brief rehearsal ahead of qualifying later Saturday, it was intriguing, but confirmed Aston Martin are genuine front-runners for this weekend’s event.
Alonso maintains hold over Verstappen in Bahrain GP practice
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Alonso maintains hold over Verstappen in Bahrain GP practice
- The 41-year-old Spaniard clocked a best lap of 1 minute 32.340 seconds
- Verstappen and Red Bull appeared unperturbed by this relatively minor setback
Aoki beat Brady to win dramatic E1 Jeddah GP and take early championship lead
- The win marked the second time Aoki Racing Team has triumphed in Jeddah, giving the outfit an early lead in the championship
JEDDAH: Aoki Racing Team claimed victory at the E1 Jeddah GP 2026 after an intense final on the waters of the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, fending off defending champions Team Brady.
The win marked the second time Aoki Racing Team has triumphed in Jeddah, giving the outfit an early lead in the championship. Pilots Sara Misir and Dani Clos delivered a commanding performance in front of thousands of spectators, capitalizing on a decisive final run.
After the checkered flag, Team AlUla — championed by LeBron James — were promoted to third place after debutants Sierra Racing Club received a penalty for an overtaking infringement, dropping them to fifth.
The race was packed with drama from the outset, with Misir going foil-to-foil with Team Rafa’s Spanish pilot Cris Lazarraga into the opening corner. There was a slight touch between the two E1 RaceBirds, with Misir emerging ahead.
Teammate Clos had earlier done the groundwork in Final 1 to secure the inside lane for Misir. The Jamaican pilot then dominated the remaining six laps, showcasing a strong display of teamwork and race control.
Misir was also awarded the coveted PIF Pilot of the Day award in recognition of her outstanding performance on debut for Aoki Racing Team. Her racecraft, control and consistency under pressure stood out throughout the day’s racing.
The Jeddah race marked the championship’s now traditional Saudi season opener, reinforcing the Kingdom’s growing role in the future of electric sport, sustainable mobility and innovation on water.
Trophies were presented to Aoki Racing Team by HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, minister of sport; to Team Brady by HRH Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Salman Al-Saud, chairman of the Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation; and to Team AlUla pilots by Sophi Horne, founder and chairman of Seabird Technologies.
Misir said: “It feels good. Dani went out there and finished P1, so I knew I had big boots to fill. I went out, kept my head down and tried my hardest.”
Her teammate, Clos, added: “I’m on a cloud. This is an amazing place to be — I’m happy with Aoki Racing Team, happy with everyone around me. This is super special for us.”
Alejandro Agag, founder and chairman of E1, who also presented trophies to the winning representatives, said: “Seeing Aoki Racing Team clinch victory here today in Jeddah by beating the defending champions was an exhilarating spectacle, framed against the Red Sea skyline.
“All the teams were cheered on by thousands of spectators who gathered to watch the racing action. Our thanks go to them and our fantastic partners — the Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation and the Ministry of Sport — who have once again extended their hospitality and helped us deliver an incredible event.”
Attention now turns to Lake Como, Italy, from April 24–25, as the championship heads to Europe for the next stop on its global tour.
