New Zealand F1 driver Liam Lawson. Photo: ERIC ALONSO / AFP
New Zealand driver Liam Lawson has completed his official testing ahead of the new Formula 1 season.
Lawson spent the first few hours of his final Bahrain pre-season test in the garage before his Racing Bulls team was able to get their new 2026 car out on the track.
He then managed to get through 106 laps, the fourth most of the day.
The 24-year-old was 10th fastest, 1.7 seconds behind the quickest, Kimi Antonelli in a Mercedes.
In last week's first testing session, Lawson [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/586732/issues-for-liam-lawson-at-f1-testing-something-i-haven-t-mastered-yet admitted to some struggles in the new specification car, but this week did say that he was more comfortable and happy with the progress they were making.
The McLaren of Oscar Piastri was second quickest, followed by Max Verstappen, who got through the most laps today with 139.
New Zealand F1 driver Liam Lawson during testing in Bahrain, 2026. Photo: ALBERTO VIMERCATI / AFP
Lawson's team-mate Arvid Lindblad will have use of the car on the third and final day of testing in Bahrain.
Aston Martin and new team Cadillac struggled with pace today.
There are significant changes in 2026 with the cars smaller and lighter and no longer running DRS, while half of their power is now electrically generated.
The first round of the 2026 championships is in Australia on 8 March.
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