The drivers are itching to stretch their legs on the never-before-used Bahrain Outer Track, but the man who got to pound the asphalt first was Safety Car driver Bernd Maylander.
As is the case at every race, the German driver - who has led more than 700 laps in F1 - enjoyed some exploratory laps of the Sakhir Grand Prix venue on Thursday, and we were there to stick a camera on the car!
So sit back and enjoy a lap of this unique new layout, which at just 3.5km is the shortest of the season. Oh, and if you think this looks quick, just wait until the F1 drivers have a go on Friday...
Next Up
Related Articles
ExclusiveWhy Piastri expects to keep Norris on his toes again
Team Previews 2026All you need to know about McLaren
When Formula 1 meets the NFL
Why Cadillac decided on a split black-and-white livery
Re-watch McLaren's launch as they unveil their 2026 livery
Re-watch Aston Martin's launch event as they reveal 2026 livery