Overview
- Mercedes ended the first Bahrain test one‑two with Kimi Antonelli ahead of George Russell, though Russell called the week a reality check after power‑unit issues and uneven mileage.
- Rivals praised Red Bull/Ford’s straight‑line deployment, with Toto Wolff labeling its power unit the benchmark, while Red Bull’s Pierre Wache countered that Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren looked faster on comparable runs.
- Max Verstappen condemned the 2026 driving experience and drivers trialed aggressive energy harvesting under braking, highlighting the new era’s heavy focus on battery management and drivability.
- Aston Martin struggled for laps at 206 and Lance Stroll estimated a deficit of around four seconds to the leaders, pointing to significant work before the second Bahrain test on February 18–20.
- The engine compression‑ratio dispute is set for a PUAC vote ahead of early‑March homologation, keeping potential performance shifts in play before Melbourne on March 8.