Nobody appears to be aiming to be the quickest within the 2026 F1 season, when the thoughts video games are in full swing.
Mercedes made headlines on Wednesday after Toto Wolff claimed Pink Bull’s new energy unit was a “benchmark” and revealed the crew was involved it might lose as a lot as a second per lap on the straights to its rivals.
Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen on Thursday accused Mercedes of maximum sandbagging as engine issues endured, after the Silver Arrows set the quickest time of the opening week of Bahrain testing and led 1-2 on Friday.
Talking to the media in Bahrain on the ultimate day of the primary official pre-season take a look at of 2026, Pink Bull technical director Pierre Wasch dismissed the concept the Milton Keynes facet had been the crew to beat.
“It is tough to say (our place), however we’re definitely not the benchmark. It’s clear that the highest three groups are forward of us. Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren are forward of us. In line with our evaluation, we appear to be behind,” Wache careworn.
“That is what we expect, nevertheless it’s laborious to say for everybody else due to everybody’s journey plans, the extent of gas they use, the extent of energy they run. It is laborious to say, however that is our evaluation in the mean time. I could possibly be improper to be trustworthy.”
“We’re making an attempt to not spend an excessive amount of time on that and deal with how we will enhance our operating.”
Kimi Antonelli
Pink Bull’s claims that it’s slower than its rivals will solely additional confuse the already unsure 2026 F1 aggressive panorama.
“I feel in low-speed traction they appear very robust. A few of the straight-line speeds of Ferrari and Mercedes are additionally attention-grabbing, particularly on low gas,” Wache continued.
“The issue is that it is laborious to evaluate efficiency till we now have the identical, very same gas ranges throughout qualifying in Melbourne.
“We clearly have some weaknesses in our automotive and primarily based on the place we’re dropping time to different vehicles, we correlate that with these weaknesses and the suggestions from Max and Isaac (Hajjar) concerning the automotive.
“That is why I am saying this. Clearly, traction in gradual and medium-speed corners was not our power already final yr, however they’re nonetheless stronger than us there.”
So who’s first?
The easy reply is, I do not know.
Final yr’s frontrunner McLaren additionally claims to be behind, with reigning world champion Lando Norris claiming Pink Bull and Ferrari are sooner.
Aston Martin, who many thought would benefit from the principles reset, is on the again foot, with Lance Stroll warning the crew could possibly be as a lot as four-and-a-half seconds off the entrance of the F1 grid.
The connection between Aston Martin and Honda is claimed to have gotten off to a rocky begin, with even genius Adrian Newey unable to disregard the apparent rift on the ability unit facet.
This leaves a query mark over Ferrari, which, apparently, stays significantly tight-lipped about its prospects for 2026.
Hamilton and Ferrari had a powerful take a look at
Not like its rivals, Ferrari refuses to be drawn into thoughts video games (a minimum of on the time of writing, with crew principal Fred Vasseur scheduled to deal with the media on the finish of Friday).
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton stated solely that “it is inconceivable to understand how far aside the Scuderia is in comparison with its rivals.”
Teammate Charles Leclerc was slightly extra vocal, suggesting Pink Bull and Mercedes had been the present leaders, whereas warning that the pecking order was “very obscure”.
Hamilton set the quickest time at Shakedown in Barcelona and the third quickest time within the first week in Bahrain.
Ferrari has been considerably unremarkable in testing up to now. They quietly go about their work whereas others speak.
Though it is tough to gauge its full tempo at this comparatively early stage, the SF-26 has usually been dependable, and Hamilton’s late cease on Friday was solely a minor blemish with one other constructive take a look at.
The efficiency of Ferrari’s new energy unit impressed not solely the lengthy runs but in addition its rivals.
Anticipate some enjoyable video games in Bahrain in week two. In any case, it’s extremely unlikely that anybody will know what place they really stand in till they arrive in Melbourne for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March eighth.
