F1 TESTING:Why Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes are all Claiming not to be the FASTEST TEAM after… Read more  

F1 TESTING:Why Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes are all Claiming not to be the fastest team after Bahrain Test 

 

The 2026 Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain has wrapped up its first phase, delivering a spectacle of intrigue, strategic deflection, and technical controversy that has left the paddock and Fans guessing about the true pecking order ahead of the season opener in Australia from March 6-8. With radical new regulations introducing overhauled chassis, power units emphasizing greater electric deployment, and active aerodynamics in play, the sport’s “big four” teams McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari have all emerged claiming they are not the fastest, creating one of the most convoluted pre-season narratives in recent memory.

 

Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz likened the situation to a game of “pass the parcel,” where each team passes the “fastest” label to a rival while downplaying their own potential. This classic sandbagging tactic is amplified this year by the unknowns of the new rules, making raw lap times, long-run data, and reliability figures difficult to interpret definitively.

 

Headline Times and Raw Pace

On the timing screens, Mercedes topped the charts during the three-day test in Sakhir. Rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli set the outright fastest lap of 1:33.669 on Friday, edging out teammate George Russell‘s 1:33.918 by a couple of tenths. Ferrari followed closely, with Lewis Hamilton posting 1:34.209 and Charles Leclerc managing 1:34.273 gaps of around half a second to Mercedes’ best. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were next in the 1:34.5-1:34.6 range, while Max Verstappen‘s best for Red Bull was 1:34.798.

 

These one-lap figures, however, are widely dismissed as unrepresentative. Teams rarely run full qualifying modes during testing, especially with new power units under scrutiny. Reliability issues also limited running: Mercedes completed only 282 laps due to suspension and engine anomalies, while McLaren led mileage with 422 laps, just ahead of Ferrari’s 420 (or 421 in some reports). Red Bull managed 343 laps despite a hydraulic leak on Thursday.

 

Race Simulations: The More Telling Indicator

Long-run data and race simulations offer a clearer window into potential race pace, where consistency and tire management matter more than peak speed. Here, Ferrari stood out after introducing upgrades (including a new front wing, floor, and diffuser) on Thursday. Leclerc and Hamilton delivered impressively consistent stints in the evening sessions on Days 2 and 3. Sky Sports reports indicate Hamilton’s race simulation on the final day was the quickest overall, outpacing even Leclerc’s earlier effort on a more rubbered-in track.

 

Red Bull showed strong early long-run pace with Verstappen on Day 1, while McLaren trailed by a few tenths in simulations from Norris and Piastri. Mercedes struggled initially on long runs but closed the gap late through Antonelli, though overall impressions favored Ferrari’s all-round balance.

 

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella noted on Friday: “Early indications from a competitiveness point of view definitely put Ferrari and Mercedes at the top of the list, in terms of those that seem to be ready from a performance point of view.”

 

The Power Unit Drama: Compression Ratio Loophole

The biggest off-track story revolves around the new power units’ compression ratio limits. Reduced to 16:1 (from 18:1 in 2025) to aid new manufacturers, the rule measures at ambient (cold) temperatures. Rivals allege Mercedes (and initially Red Bull) exploited a loophole: complying when cold but achieving higher ratios and thus more power when hot via thermal expansion or materials tech. Estimates suggest this could yield 3-25 horsepower (or up to 0.3-0.4 seconds per lap).

 

Mercedes initially dismissed calls for changes, but Toto Wolff adopted a conciliatory tone in Bahrain, acknowledging a potential rule tweak. Rivals Ferrari, Honda (for Red Bull customers? Wait, no Honda supplies Aston, but Red Bull has its own Ford-backed unit), Audi, and now Red Bull lobbied the FIA for “level playing field” measures, possibly via hot testing protocols. An F1 Commission meeting next week could decide changes.

 

Wolff deflected praise toward Red Bull’s deployment system, calling it the “benchmark” and highlighting their energy management superiority possibly between hardware and software. Verstappen countered sharply: “They are obviously trying to shift the focus to us… Just wait until Melbourne and see how fast they suddenly go on all the straights.”

 

Leclerc echoed skepticism: “We’ve seen a few things on the Mercedes engine that are very impressive and they are not showing any of that. And when I say any of that, we are speaking about quite a lot.”

 

Red Bull’s Pierre Wache rejected Wolff’s narrative, insisting: “We are not the benchmark… You see clearly the top three teams, Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren, are in front of us.”

 

This flip Red Bull joining the anti-Mercedes lobby suggests they may need Mercedes’ unit restrained to leverage their own deployment edge.

 

Team-by-Team Breakdown

Ferrari (SF-26): Impressive upgrades transformed their package. Strong race pace, solid reliability, and upgrades paid off. Hamilton and Leclerc showed optimism cautiously, but paddock sentiment shifted positively on Friday. After a winless 2025, this represents major progress. Fred Vasseur emphasized development over initial potential: “One year ago, everyone was struggling to find hundredths… now it’s more about tenths.”

 

Mercedes: Fastest single laps but hampered by issues. Suspected sandbagging amid the dispute especially after a dominant Barcelona shakedown. Russell called it a “reality check,” praising Red Bull’s “scary” advantage, but rivals believe the Silver Arrows hold significant reserve (possibly 25hp).

 

McLaren (title defenders): High mileage, reliable, but admitted shortfall. Norris: “We’re not really close to them at the minute… We’re certainly not bad, but we’re not quick enough.” As a Mercedes customer, they benefit if the PU is strong but stayed quiet on the dispute. Stella’s assessment aligns with others: Ferrari and Mercedes ahead.

 

Red Bull: Strong deployment and reliability in their debut in-house PU (with Ford). Verstappen quick early, but team downplays position. Hydraulic issues limited running, yet their energy system impressed Leclerc as “very impressive.”

 

Looking Ahead

The confusion underscores how much remains hidden. Teams prioritize data collection over showboating, with development expected to define the season. Vasseur’s words ring true: competition will hinge on upgrades, not launch spec.

 

As testing resumes (with final pre-season in Bahrain from February 18-20 on Sky Sports F1), the puzzle persists. Is Mercedes sandbagging a monster? Does Ferrari’s balance make them dark horses? Can Red Bull’s deployment translate to races? Or will McLaren’s experience close gaps?

Melbourne will reveal truths or spark new myst1,248 in F1’s bold 2026 era.

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