SAKHIR, Bahrain (AP) — Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell were the fastest at the end of three days of Formula 1 preseason testing in Bahrain on Friday.
Antonelli topped the afternoon session, replacing Russell behind the wheel. Russell led the way in the morning as the teams can run only one car on track in the test.
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Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain waits in his car on the third day of Formula One pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands looks on as mechanics prepare his car during the third day of Formula One pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car on the third day of Formula One pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car on the third day of Formula One pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain on the third day of Formula One pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Three more days of testing are scheduled next week in Bahrain, after a secretive “shakedown” test in Spain last month.
Russell said Mercedes still has work to do before the first race of the season, the Australian Grand Prix on March 8.
“Barcelona was very smooth, and probably smoother than we actually anticipated, in terms of reliability, in terms of performance," he said. "We’ve got to Bahrain and in both regards we’ve taken a step back.
“We’ve got another test, a month until Melbourne. We’re obviously very focused on the performance but you’ve also got to finish the race if you want to fight for the result. Being a driver, you’re always focused on the performance, and a number of the team members are really focused on reliability and working hard on that.”
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton tested for the entire day and was second to Antonelli by more than half a second.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri also participated in both sessions and placed fourth. Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar followed.
The drivers are testing new cars amid sweeping changes for 2026 that have made cars smaller and lighter and highlighted the strategy of charging an on-board battery and using electrical energy to boost speed.
Hadjar praised team’s new power unit, saying it "seems so far reliable, powerful, so I’m very happy so far. Very surprised already from the Barcelona shakedown to here, like how many laps we managed to achieve.
“It just seems easier to push to the limit compared to last year’s car. It’s a bit slower in general, and also lighter, smaller.”
Charles Leclerc led the way for Ferrari on Thursday, going fastest by half a second from champion Lando Norris. On Wednesday, Norris topped the field.
AP Formula 1: https://apnews.com/hub/formula-one
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain waits in his car on the third day of Formula One pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands looks on as mechanics prepare his car during the third day of Formula One pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car on the third day of Formula One pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car on the third day of Formula One pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain on the third day of Formula One pre-season test at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Zimbabwe remained unbeaten against Australia at T20 World Cups after a surprising and comfortable 23-run win on Friday.
Defending 169, seamers Blessing Muzarabani grabbed a career-best 4-17 and Brad Evans 3-23 to help dismiss Australia for 146 in 19.3 overs.
Zimbabwe's second victory from two matches left Australia — the 2021 champion and perennial white-ball contender — needing to beat co-host Sri Lanka and Oman to advance from Group B.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates and United States registered their second wins in T20 World Cup history.
The UAE beat Canada by five wickets in New Delhi and the U.S. routed the Netherlands by 93 runs in Chennai.
Zimbabwe shocked Australia in their only previous T20 World Cup match in 2007, a freak five-wicket win in Cape Town. But 19 years later the contest was stunning for how much Zimbabwe dominated.
Zimbabwe lost only two wickets batting. Opener Brian Bennett earlier anchored with an unbeaten 64 off 56 balls. Tadiwanashe Marumani (35) and Ryan Burl (35) contributed and captain Sikandar Raza’s late acceleration (25 off 13 deliveries) was crucial in reaching 169-2.
The game was as good as over when Zimbabwe reduced Australia to 29-4 after 4.3 overs of the chase. Muzarabani and Evans did the damage and returned to finish what they started.
Matt Renshaw, playing in his first T20 World Cup, scored a fighting 65 off 44 balls into the 19th over and partnered with Glenn Maxwell, who struggled for 31 off 32.
“I was bowling to some of the best players in the world, so I am really happy it came off really nice,” said Muzarabani, who also reached 100 wickets in T20s. “Really good to beat Australia, but also (will be) nice to qualify (for the Super 8s), so looking forward to the next game now.”
Zimbabwe is on a mission of redemption after failing to qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup, the only full member to miss out. But before this game veteran batter Brendan Taylor was ruled out of the tournament due to a hamstring injury, and during Australia's innings captain Raza left with leg cramps.
Australia was without captain Mitchell Marsh, sidelined for the second successive game due to a testicular injury. When stand-in skipper Travis Head deflected the ball onto his stumps, Australia was four down and in deep trouble.
On a slow pitch the asking rate soared and Zimbabwe didn't allow the batters to break free.
Earlier, Marumani hit seven boundaries to lead Zimbabwe to 61-0 with Bennett, who shared another 60-run stand with Burl.
Opener Aryansh Sharma hit 74 not out off 53 balls to lead UAE across the finish line against Canada. Sharma surpassed Muhammad Waseem’s 66 not out against New Zealand in the previous game for UAE's highest score at a T20 World Cup.
Chasing Canada’s 150-7, the UAE was down to 66-4 as left-arm spinner Saad Bin Zafar rocked the top order with 3-14 in four overs.
Sohaib Khan provided the turning point — 51 off 29 balls with four sixes — and an 84-run stand off 42 balls with Sharma.
Canada was restricted to a below-par score after medium pacer Juniad Siddique picked 5-35, the second best figures in the tournament.
UAE’s only previous T20 World Cup win was against Namibia in 2022.
The U.S. also notched a second win in tournament history after downing Pakistan in 2024.
Saiteja Mukkamalla scored 79 off 51 balls with four sixes and five fours as the U.S. racked up 196-6. Skipper Monank Patel added 36 off 22.
The Dutch hit back through medium pacer Bas de Leede (3-37), but Shubham Rajane countered with 48 not out off 24 balls to propel the score.
The Netherlands collapsed to 103 all out in 15.5 overs.
Left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh took 4-21, medium pacer Shadley van Schalkwyk 3-21 and wrist spinner Mohammad Mohsin 2-19 as the U.S. earned the biggest win by runs — 93 — for an associate at T20 World Cups.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Zimbabwe's Brian Bennett celebrates his fifty runs during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Zimbabwe's Ryan Burl plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Zimbabwe's Blessing Muzarabani celebrates the wicket of Australia's Tim David during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Zimbabwe's Ryan Burl celebrates the wicket of Australia's Glenn Maxwell during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Australia's captain Travis Head, second right, toss the coin as Zimbabwe's captain Sikandar Raza, right, watch it before the starts of the T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
