Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged Red Bull's superior performance on the first day of 2026 pre-season testing in Bahrain, noting a significant advantage in energy deployment. Despite a positive shakedown in Barcelona, Mercedes faces car balance challenges in the hot conditions. Wolff emphasized the need for his team to improve against the benchmark set by Red Bull and Max Verstappen.
The 2026 Formula 1 pre-season testing commenced at the Bahrain International Circuit, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen topping the morning session on Wednesday. Mercedes, fresh from a productive Barcelona shakedown where drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli completed numerous laps in the W17 car, encountered complications in Bahrain's hotter environment.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes boss, shifted focus to the competition, particularly Red Bull's RB22 and its new power unit. 'We've seen a very, very strong Verstappen, so we have to get our act together,' Wolff stated. He highlighted Red Bull's ability to deploy more energy on straights, estimating a one-second per lap advantage over consecutive laps compared to Mercedes.
'On a single lap we have seen it before - but now we have seen it on 10 consecutive laps with the same kind of straight line deployment,' Wolff explained during the lunch break. This long-run data from a head-to-head with George Russell confirmed Red Bull's consistency and speed, altering perceptions after Mercedes was initially favored post-Barcelona.
Wolff praised Red Bull's efforts: 'The car, the power unit, are the benchmark at the moment... That combination is strong' with Verstappen driving. He downplayed paddock talk on compression ratios, calling it 'blown out of proportion' and typical F1 political lobbying.
Testing resumes Thursday, providing more insights into the new regulations era. Red Bull's reliability and pace have drawn rival admiration, signaling a competitive championship ahead.
