Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has warned that Mercedes are “hiding an enormous quantity of efficiency” from their 2026 F1 rivals after the primary pre-season check in Bahrain.
The primary three days of official testing of the brand new automobile laws are tough to foretell, with McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes main the best way.
All through Friday, the likes of Crimson Bull, McLaren and Mercedes all downplayed their present type, declaring that different groups are the benchmark at this stage.
Mercedes have been repeatedly accused of sandbagging within the first check, however the Silver Arrows took the lead on Friday with Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.
Requested on the official F1 web site whether or not he thought Mercedes and Crimson Bull had been hiding their efficiency, Charles Leclerc stated: “I believe Crimson Bull carried out just a little bit higher than Mercedes and so they had been very spectacular.”
“I believe Mercedes is hiding an enormous sum of money. Solely time will inform how a lot they’re hiding.”
Ferrari carried out properly on this check as properly, with the Scuderia setting the third quickest time on Friday alongside Lewis Hamilton.
The British rider stopped with 10 minutes remaining on Friday’s run, however the Ferrari’s mileage and reliability had been robust.
There have been even rumors within the paddock that Ferrari had not modified the ability unit in Hamilton’s automobile for the reason that Barcelona shakedown.
Leclerc is optimistic about Ferrari’s three days in Bahrain however stays grounded.
“Yeah, however it’s only a feeling,” he stated of Ferrari’s robust exhibiting in Bahrain.
“So for now I’ll tread fastidiously.
“If final yr there have been solely two or three belongings you needed to tinker with in your automobile to cover your potential, now you in all probability have 10 or 15, as a result of with these new methods there are extra methods than common that you would be able to really cover your efficiency.”
“So by way of the efficiency itself, it’s laborious to know.
“By way of reliability, I believe we’re in a great place. That is true and that is a optimistic factor.”
“However finally efficiency, in addition to reliability, are essential issues that we have now to be good at, and we do not actually know the place we’re in the meanwhile.”
