Teams were keeping their 2026 F1 cars under wraps on the opening day of testing, but even with limited footage, a few early standouts have already caught the eye. Mercedes looked sharp from the outset, with both drivers logging consistent laps and getting through their programme without any major setbacks.
Teams were keeping their 2026 F1 cars under wraps on the opening day of testing, but even with limited footage, a few early standouts have already caught the eye.
Mercedes looked sharp from the outset, with both drivers logging consistent laps and getting through their programme without any major setbacks.
Red Bull had Isack Hadjar behind the wheel for a session that doubled as an official debut for their new engine. Reports from within the paddock suggest early signs were positive.
Russell has already been taking notice. Speaking about Red Bull’s setup, he pointed out what he sees as a clear strength: “They’ve got really good straight-line speed at the moment,” Russell said, “The car looks very together in that sense.”
Russell shares early thoughts on Red Bull’s engine performance
The Mercedes driver added: “I don’t know if they’re running a little bit more power than everybody else is at this stage. But when you look at their speed traces compared to Ferrari and us, they are considerably ahead.”
The teams could have made things interesting by sending someone else out first just to throw fans off, but it’s clear that there’s still plenty of time for things to change before we see anything resembling a race weekend grid.
This comes after Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur previously expressed his own doubts over Red Bull and Ford during last year’s preseason campaign:
“For sure it will be tough. It is not only on [Red Bull]. We’ll all improve,” Vasseur told Racing News 365.
Russell gives early backing to Red Bull’s 2026 engine after day one of testing
Ted Kravitz picked up on something noteworthy from Red Bull and was impressed by the lap time Hadjar managed on the opening day of testing.
Even with everyone clearly sandbagging at this stage, it still served as a useful benchmark and a reminder why they’re considered champions year after year.
Alex Palou has pointed out that Max Verstappen ‘shouldn’t’ be able to win at Red Bull, yet he continues to pull results from the car that few others could manage.
After reviewing some data and getting a look at the new car, Russell didn’t hide his admiration for what some competitors have put together.
“We’re happy with our day, but I’m also impressed by some of the other teams,” he said, according to Sky Sport DE.
“The Red Bull power unit completed a lot of laps, which, given that it’s their first in-house engine, means they’ve clearly done a good job.”
Why Red Bull were expected to struggle a bit in 2026
Red Bull might not build their 2026 car specifically around Verstappen, especially with concerns that he could consider leaving if the car doesn’t meet his expectations.
He has a clause that will allow him to explore options elsewhere if he isn’t in the top two of the drivers’ championship during the summer break.
That’s a lot of pressure for any team, particularly one building an engine from scratch for the first time.
But it’s still early days, and few expect them to hit the ground running immediately. With so much change across the grid, expecting instant success would be unrealistic.
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Category: General Sports
