The first official round of pre-season testing for the 2026 Formula 1 Championship began today at the Bahrain International Circuit. All 11 teams, including the newly formed Cadillac F1 management, are present to test their all-new machinery under the sport's massive regulatory overhaul. Early paddock consensus suggests that Mercedes has started the strongest, with their car showing impressive reliability and speed during the morning sessions. 

This week's three-day test is the first time the public can see the new models push for performance, following a "locked-down" private shakedown in Barcelona last month. Lewis Hamilton, who topped unofficial timesheets in January, is expected to share driving duties today as teams scramble to understand the new active aerodynamics and sustainable fuel power units. Development is moving at a ferocious pace, with some teams already bringing major upgrades compared to their launch models. 

The testing will continue through Friday, February 13, with a second round scheduled for next week before the season opener in Melbourne on March 8. Today's data will be crucial for technical directors like Adrian Newey, as they look to solve early design divergences seen across the grid.