Mercedes sets pace in Bahrain test finale as Russell warns of 'scary' Red Bull engine
Mercedes led the final day of F1's first Bahrain test, but George Russell warned that Red Bull's new power unit holds a 'scary' performance advantage. While teams engaged in mutual praise and sandbagging, the mixed signals set the stage for a crucial final test week to uncover the true 2026 pecking order.
Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell topped the timesheets on the final day of the first Bahrain pre-season test, but Russell issued a stark warning about the apparent performance advantage of rivals Red Bull's new power unit. While Mercedes set the outright pace, Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton completed a mammoth 138 laps in the SF-26, and a game of verbal 'pass the parcel' continued among the top teams regarding who holds the real early advantage for 2026.
Why it matters:
Pre-season testing times are famously deceptive, but the underlying performance trends and driver comments offer the first genuine clues about the competitive order. Russell's candid concern about a rival's engine advantage cuts through the typical team sandbagging and highlights a potential key battleground for the new season. The mixed messages from leading teams create an air of uncertainty, making the final test next week critical for understanding true pecking order.
The details:
- Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli set the overall benchmark for the first test with a lap of 1:33.669 during the afternoon session, improving on teammate George Russell's morning best.
- Lewis Hamilton was third fastest for Ferrari, completing 138 laps before stopping on track in the final minutes; the team has not confirmed if it was a reliability issue or a precaution.
- Red Bull's Stealth Mode: Red Bull, with Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar driving, finished over 1.5 seconds off the ultimate pace and outside the top four. However, their race simulations and engine performance have drawn serious attention from rivals.
- Russell's 'Scary' Assessment: George Russell stated Red Bull's power unit appears "a step above everyone else," suggesting a deficit of "half a second to a second in deployment over the course of a lap."
- The Blame Game: In a classic testing narrative, teams are downplaying their own form while talking up rivals. Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache pointed to Mercedes' one-lap pace and included McLaren and Ferrari in the top group, while Mercedes and McLaren have highlighted Ferrari's long-run performance.
What's next:
The focus now shifts to the second and final pre-season test, also in Bahrain, from February 18-20. Teams will transition from initial data gathering to fine-tuning their cars and conducting more representative race simulations. The true hierarchy will begin to crystallize, either confirming Russell's engine concerns or revealing the full picture of a closely matched top four. The season opener in Australia on March 6-8 will provide the definitive answer.