Car trouble sparks red flag in Bahrain afternoon run

Photo: Race Pictures

Updated: 14:27, 18 Feb

Samson Ero is a Formula 1 editor at GPblog with seven years’ experience in sports media. He covers key paddock developments, offering analysis on drivers, teams, and performance trends, with work featured on leading platforms.

Lance Stroll triggered the first red flag of the afternoon at the Bahrain International Circuit.

The Aston Martin driver ran his AMR26 onto the escape road approaching Turn 11 at Sakhir. Stroll, who on a flying lap, appeared to lose drive while attempting a downshift into the corner.

The incident adds to a difficult day for the Aston Martin team, coming after teammate Fernando Alonso faced engine issues during the morning session, which limited him to completing only 28 laps through the four-hour session.

Lance Stroll in Bahrain - Photo: Race Pictures

The red flag forced all drivers to return to the pits, while marshals worked to recover Stroll’s stranded AMR26.

Follow live coverage of the afternoon session in Bahrain here

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F1-stand 2026

Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	179
2	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	154
3	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	147
4	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	108
5	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	97
6	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	82
7	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	76
8	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	52
9	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	42
10	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	39
11	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	20
12	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	18
13	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	18
14	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	6
15	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	6
16	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	5
17	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	3
18	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	1
19	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
20	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
21	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
22	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0

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Car trouble sparks red flag in Bahrain afternoon run

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