McLaren CEO Zak Brown concedes the team is not the fastest among F1's leading contenders despite its championship-winning form last year, identifying Red Bull and Mercedes as the early pace-setters under the new regulations.
Ferrari will distribute a €14,900 bonus to its Italy-based employees after reporting a record net profit of €1.6 billion, even as car deliveries saw a minor decrease. The lucrative payout highlights the brand's strong financial health as it gears up to launch new models, including its first electric car.
McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella has pledged full support for drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to extract maximum performance from the MCL40, acknowledging the increased challenge they face in managing the new 2026 power units. The team leaves pre-season testing encouraged by reliability and a growing understanding of the car's potential.
Lewis Hamilton enters his first season with Ferrari mentally refreshed, admitting he lost his way last year. After a positive winter test, the seven-time champion is re-energized and determined to lead the Scuderia's fight back to the front of the grid.
McLaren boss Andrea Stella identifies Ferrari and Mercedes as the early pace-setters after F1's 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain, though he believes his team is close behind. Stella noted McLaren's long-run pace appeared comparable to Red Bull's, hinting at a potential four-team fight at the front when the season begins.
Mercedes driver George Russell says his team has drastically reduced Red Bull's once-formidable advantage in battery deployment, a key performance area. He believes managing energy will now be more critical to race outcomes than aerodynamic turbulence, especially on tracks like Melbourne.
Liam Lawson details the significant personal support Max Verstappen offered him during and after his brief and challenging stint at Red Bull Racing in 2025. Now with Racing Bulls for 2026, Lawson aims to use that experience and a stable seat to build his Formula 1 career.
Oscar Piastri confirms his manager, Mark Webber, will have a reduced trackside presence in 2026, with former F2 engineer Pedro Matos taking a more active role. The McLaren driver insists Webber remains involved and the change is simply a restructuring of his support team as he aims for title contention under F1's new regulations.
Liam Lawson highlights Racing Bulls' impressive pre-season reliability after the VCARB 03 completed over 1,000 laps of testing. This strong, trouble-free running provides a crucial data foundation as F1 adapts to new technical regulations, positioning the team well for the start of the season in Melbourne.
At the Bahrain test, Mercedes engineer Bono got revenge on Kimi Antonelli for a birthday water gun prank by spiking his drink with hot sauce, with Lewis Hamilton on hand to witness the hilarious team bonding moment.
McLaren team boss Andrea Stella conceded that Ferrari and Mercedes look to have a performance edge after pre-season testing in Bahrain, placing the reigning champions in an early chasing role. He confirmed no major car upgrades are planned for the season opener in Melbourne, emphasizing weight reduction as a key focus.
Fernando Alonso has criticized the 2026 F1 prototype cars, comparing their grip to a "rental car" and arguing that intense energy management requirements are diminishing the role of driver skill, especially in high-speed corners. His comments reveal a split in the driver lineup over the sport's technical direction.
