McLaren chief says Mercedes, Ferrari quicker in Bahrain test, Red Bull still competitive

McLaren boss Andrea Stella admitted Mercedes and Ferrari posted quicker race‑pace simulations than McLaren at Bahrain’s test, with Red Bull competitive. He cautioned against over‑reading the data and urged safety tweaks before the Australian GP.

Why it matters:

• Shows the early performance gap among the four traditional front‑runners, shaping the championship narrative from day one.
• His safety call could influence FIA rule‑changes ahead of Melbourne, where a smoother start may affect early points for all teams.

The details:

• Simulations put Hamilton and Antonelli ahead of McLaren, while Leclerc’s Thursday run matched today’s pace; Ferrari also overtook Mercedes in total distance after the German side suffered a hiccup in the second half of the test.
• Red Bull’s 2026 power‑unit delivered strong energy deployment, and both Leclerc and Hamilton set competitive long‑run sector times, underscoring tyre‑preserving performance; Stella also urged tighter cockpit protection, stronger barriers and stricter virtual‑safety‑car rules.

What's next:

Stella expects the Australian Grand Prix to be decided by the car that combines maximum downforce with a competitive hybrid system, meaning teams must fine‑tune both aero and energy recovery. If the FIA adopts his proposed safety upgrades, the opening round could be smoother and set the tone for the 2026 era.