Alpine has challenged Mercedes' rival teams to file an official protest at the Australian GP if they are dissatisfied with the compression ratio rules, calling their bluff amid a push for a last-minute change. Alpine warns that altering the regulations now sets a dangerous precedent, arguing Mercedes' engine is legal under the current, clearly written rules.
The final morning of F1 testing in Bahrain saw high mileage and a fastest lap from Mercedes' George Russell. Liam Lawson led lap counts, while the Red Bull-Ford and Ferrari power units showed strong reliability, setting the stage for the season opener.
Carlos Sainz agrees with Toto Wolff's claim that Red Bull Powertrains is the early 2026 benchmark, citing GPS data that shows a 'clear step' in performance and seamless energy management, posing a significant challenge to rival manufacturers.
Toto Wolff says Mercedes will be 'screwed' if a supermajority vote passes to change how engine compression ratios are measured, a move aimed at closing a suspected Mercedes performance loophole. With Red Bull switching sides, the decision now rests with the FIA and FOM, putting Mercedes' 2026 power unit at risk of being ruled illegal just before homologation.
George Russell put Mercedes atop the timesheets in Bahrain testing with a 1m33.918s lap, showcasing a rebound from earlier engine troubles. The session was marred by another red flag caused by a mechanical failure for Valtteri Bottas's Cadillac, highlighting ongoing reliability concerns for the new team.
Sergio Perez has backed Max Verstappen's criticism of the 2026 F1 cars, suggesting the racing could become similar to Formula E. He cited the extreme complexity of the new power units and expressed uncertainty about overtaking, marking a significant warning from experienced drivers about the new era's racing product.
McLaren and engine supplier Mercedes are deepening their technical collaboration to analyze and counter Red Bull's apparent advantage in hybrid energy deployment, a factor cited as potentially worth a second per lap. While focused on closing the gap, McLaren acknowledges its own power unit's strengths, and Max Verstappen has brushed off the talk as gamesmanship ahead of the season opener.
Lando Norris says McLaren is behind Red Bull and Ferrari on pace, citing Red Bull's superior power unit deployment as a key advantage. He remains confident in his team's development potential but acknowledges a significant gap exists ahead of the new season.
Valtteri Bottas brought out the first red flag on the final day of pre-season testing in Bahrain after stopping on track. The Cadillac driver had completed only eight laps, halting the morning session. Meanwhile, George Russell continued to set the pace for Mercedes.
The final day of F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain concludes, following a day where Charles Leclerc set the pace and a spat erupted between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen over the new car regulations. Several top drivers return to the cockpit for the last session before the 2026 season begins.
Max Verstappen returns to Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton takes over at Ferrari for the last day of pre-season testing in Bahrain, with teams finalizing their driver rotations to complete critical running before the season begins.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff reacted with humor after junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli crashed his exclusive, £180,000 company car in Italy. Wolff confirmed Antonelli was unharmed but embarrassed, downplaying the incident as a minor blip for the highly-touted prospect.
