Mind games in full swing as F1 teams point fingers after Bahrain testing

Red Bull and Max Verstappen emerged from the first week of pre-season testing in Bahrain as the perceived benchmark, sparking a flurry of public commentary and deflection from rival teams. Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari have all pointed towards Red Bull's apparent pace, while simultaneously downplaying their own positions in what has become an early season ritual of psychological maneuvering.

Why it matters:

Pre-season testing often sets the narrative for the opening races, and the public statements from team principals and drivers can influence expectations and pressure. The concerted effort by multiple top teams to label Red Bull as the clear favorite suggests a genuine concern about their performance, but also serves as a classic tactic to shift focus and manage external pressure before the season begins.

The details:

• Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff initiated the discussion, admitting he had hoped Red Bull would be slower and labeling them the current "benchmark," even suggesting a gap of up to a second per lap—a claim Red Bull personnel met with astonishment.
• George Russell reinforced his team boss's view, stating the gap to Red Bull was "pretty scary" and in the order of "half a second to a second."
• McLaren's Lando Norris expressed similar sentiments about Red Bull's strong showing.
• In response, Max Verstappen largely dismissed the talk as mind games he prefers not to engage in, while Red Bull technical director Pierre Waché deflected by suggesting the other three top teams were a step ahead.
• Ferrari's Charles Leclerc acknowledged Red Bull's impressive power unit performance but pointed a finger at Mercedes, suggesting they were "hiding a lot more."
• McLaren boss Andrea Stella later pointed to both Mercedes and Ferrari as benchmarks after the final day of testing, adding another layer to the shifting narrative.

The big picture:

This public posturing is a hallmark of the pre-season period. The "favorite" tag has already shifted from Mercedes after their Barcelona shakedown to Red Bull after the first Bahrain test. The consistent theme is that no top team wants to be seen as the outright leader, aiming instead to underpromise and, they hope, overdeliver when the competitive sessions begin.

What's next:

The second week of testing in Bahrain will provide more data and likely fuel further speculation. The true pecking order will only be revealed under the pressure of qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Until then, the strategic downplaying and rival-pointing are set to continue as teams finalize their preparations and engage in one of Formula 1's oldest games: the battle of perceptions before the battle on track.