F1 weather forecast for second Bahrain pre-season test

F1's preparations for the 2026 season continue this week with the second official pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit, running from 18–20 February.

Track action is scheduled from 07:00 to 16:00 GMT each day, with teams getting a final opportunity to fine-tune their packages before the freight departs for the season-opening round in Australia.

Weather conditions are set to remain highly favourable across all three days in Sakhir; afternoon temperatures are forecast to peak between 23°C and 25°C, very much in keeping with Bahrain’s typically pleasant February climate.

While the venue is notorious for extreme heat later in the year, winter testing benefits from far more moderate air and track temperatures — ideal for long runs and meaningful data gathering.

Overnight lows are expected to fall to between 17°C and 19°C, ensuring relatively mild starts to each morning session. No rain is forecast.

Conditions closely mirror those seen during the opening pre-season test, held from 11–13 February.

On that occasion, teams enjoyed uninterrupted running under bright sunshine, with daytime highs in the low-to-mid 20s and cooler evenings in the high teens. Winds were generally light, occasionally moderate, and there were no weather-related disruptions.

The similarity between the two test windows should prove valuable. Comparable ambient and track temperatures will allow teams to benchmark updates and long-run performance with minimal environmental variation.

Winds over the coming days are expected to blow predominantly from the north-east through to the south-east, remaining light to moderate in strength. While unlikely to cause major balance concerns, gusts can still play a role through some of Bahrain’s more exposed braking and traction zones.

As during the first test, skies are unlikely to be perfectly clear. A layer of desert dust is forecast to linger in the atmosphere.

Importantly, this dust is expected to remain suspended rather than settle on the circuit surface, meaning grip levels should not be adversely affected.

The main impact will be visual, with hazy horizons and striking sunrises and sunsets providing a dramatic backdrop to the on-track action.

With stable temperatures, manageable winds and no threat of rain, the second pre-season test is set to offer another productive and uninterrupted programme for teams.

If conditions unfold as forecast, Sakhir will once again provide the consistency engineers crave at this stage of the year — warm, dry and predictable — as the countdown to Melbourne gathers pace.