F1 Bahrain pre-season testing live commentary and updates - day 4

Let's have another look at lap counts for this afternoon

Piastri - 39

Russell - 45

Hamilton - 24

Hadjar - 23

Sainz - 30

Colapinto - 31

Lawson - 39

Bortoleto - 39

Bearman - 25

Stroll - 7

Bottas - 16

Woops! Colapinto went deep at Turn 1 after a big lock-up with Sainz right behind him. 

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images

To say it's testing, we've not been shy on wheel-to-wheel battles today. Sainz-Piastri were the latest to engage in one with the McLaren overtaking the Williams down the pit straight. 

'Demi' asking about prototype tyres. Basically, it depends on what Pirelli is testing so it could be closer to a soft on one occasion, but then a hard on another. 

It's all quiet down at Ferrari. The mechanics are understood to have been working on the rear of the SF-26 for the past hour or so. 

He might not be on track, but Hamilton is still much more upbeat at the moment than he was during a very disappointing 2025 at Ferrari.

"I spent a lot of time rebuilding over this winter, refocusing, really getting my body and my mind to a much better place," he said.

"Honestly, I generally feel in the best place that I've been in a long, long time with rearranging things within my team.

"And then with the car, I think we started off quite well so far. So, and it's just, it's an exciting time with this new generation of car as well, because it's all brand new. We're all trying to figure it out on the go.

"And last year we were locked into a car that ultimately I inherited. This is a car that I've been able to be a part of developing on the simulator for the last, you know, 10 months, eight months. And so like a bit of my DNA is within it.

"So I'm more connected to this one for sure."

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

With 45 minutes remaining, there's still nobody threatening that fastest lap from Piastri as drivers are more in their longruns now. 

This includes Bottas and Hadjar, who are largely playing catch-up at this stage as various issues have limited running for both.

Going back to Hamilton, it looks as though he's getting ready to return to the track...

And he is back out. The world champion is on 26 laps, which is far from this afternoon's highest total of 60 by Bortoleto. 

A common sight in F1 testing is the fluorescent paint on cars, which often confuses new fans. This is done to physically map the aerodynamic airflow, giving teams data for their analysis later. 

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images

As we now approach the final 20 minutes, Lindblad still has the highest lap count having done 75 tours of the Bahrain circuit this morning.

But Russell is closing in with 68 laps this afternoon, while Piastri is just another two behind.

Testing 1, 2, 3

There's 14 minutes left on the clock, but this is pretty much the final four minutes of running as there'll be various system checks in the last 10. 

This includes starting off with a VSC ahead of a red flag before two formation laps follow, in which cars will then line up on the grid for a simulated race start. 

Once all cars are in position, a new Pre-Start Warning will begin: all grid panels will flash blue for five seconds. After the blue warning ends, the usual start sequence will begin.

'aerobalance' asking about brakes on these 2026 cars. The front is hydraulic while the rear is brake-by-wire. 

With these system checks happening, let me once again refer you to an earlier article about race start procedures...

The atmosphere is tense, fans are on the edge of their seats, awaiting the start of this Bahrain GP with the formation lap underway. Piastri is on pole, but can he hold off the Racing Bulls of Lawson into T1?

Drivers are lining up into their grid boxes for race start and we are now go, go, go! 

It's a brilliant start from Piastri, but a slow getaway from Lawson who drops into third behind Sainz.

Nah in all seriousness, it seemed like a relatively smooth practice start - though obviously total different when the pressure isn't on and drivers aren't going at full speed. 

Here is a full breakdown from today with Max Verstappen being the only driver not to feature:

Russell on top

As you can see, not only did George set the fastest lap on Wednesday, but he also completed the most mileage with 76 tours of the Bahrain track.

George Russell, Mercedes

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

And with that, we shall leave it there! So thanks for following along and we shall see you tomorrow.