Overview
- Charles Leclerc set the week’s fastest lap at 1:31.992 as Ferrari impressed over single laps and delivered notably quick practice starts.
- Paddock analysis indicates Mercedes holds a slight early edge with strong reliability, even as rivals question its compression‑ratio interpretation and an FIA verification vote is expected.
- George Russell cautioned that launches could decide early races after calling his Bahrain practice starts worse than his worst in F1, while Ferrari and Ferrari‑powered Haas managed clean getaways.
- Engineers flagged Ferrari’s smaller turbo, credited for rapid launches and response, as a potential handicap at power‑sensitive venues such as Monza, Spa, Silverstone and possibly Albert Park.
- Top drivers and ex‑drivers criticized the 2026 formula’s energy‑management focus, with Max Verstappen calling the cars “Formula E on steroids” and Lucas Di Grassi publicly agreeing.