Formula 1 Pre-Season Testing Resumes at Bahrain’s Sakhir Circuit with Full Pirelli Tyre Range

Sakhir, Bahrain, February 16, 2026: Formula 1 cars are back on track at the iconic Bahrain International Circuit for the second and final pre-season testing session ahead of the 2026 championship. Teams have three days — from February 18 to February 20 — to fine-tune their cars before the official season opener.

After last week’s running was limited to the three hardest tyre compounds, this week’s session allows teams to choose from all five dry-weather options supplied by Pirelli. Each team could select up to 24 sets and was also permitted to carry over tyres used for no more than nine laps in the previous test.

C2 and C3 Most Popular Tyre Choices

The most requested compounds were the C3 and C2, selected by ten of the eleven teams, highlighting their importance in establishing a balanced baseline setup.

However, tyre strategies varied across the grid:

• Mercedes opted to stick exclusively with the three hardest compounds already used in the earlier session.
• McLaren, Ferrari, Racing Bulls, Audi, and Haas added the C4 compound to their allocation.
• Red Bull Racing, Alpine, Williams, and Aston Martin leaned toward softer selections.
• Alpine and Williams included the softest C5 compound in their plans.
• Aston Martin uniquely selected only the three softest compounds: C3, C4, and C5.
• New entrant Cadillac diversified its approach, becoming the only team to request at least one set of every available dry compound.

Testing Schedule and Tyre Identification System

Daily sessions will run from 10:00 to 19:00 local time, giving teams ample opportunity to gather long-run data and qualifying simulations under varying track conditions.

For spectators at the circuit and viewers tuning in worldwide, Pirelli has implemented a specific tyre identification system for testing:

• C1 and C2: White logos
• C3 and C4: Yellow logos
• C5: Red logos

To differentiate between compounds sharing the same colour, the harder tyre of the pair features a chequered flag pattern on its sidewall. As a result, only the C2 and C4 tyres will appear without this decoration, displaying solely the Pirelli and P Zero branding.

Crucial Final Preparations Before 2026 Season

With just days remaining before the new season begins, this final Bahrain test is vital for teams to optimise performance, evaluate tyre degradation, and simulate race conditions. The expanded compound selection offers engineers greater flexibility in understanding car balance and strategy options — potentially shaping the competitive order when the 2026 Formula 1 season officially gets underway.