Formula 1 drivers face a steep learning curve with "complicated" and "messy" race starts under the 2026 rules, as the removal of the MGU-H hybrid component eliminates instant acceleration. They must now execute a longer, manual procedure to combat turbo lag, while strict battery usage rules create a tough strategic trade-off between a good launch and lap energy.
Aston Martin partners with an AI firm and a sleep tech company, Audi adds an eyewear brand, and Williams secures a multi-year deal with Carlos Sainz's longtime sponsor, Estrella Galicia, highlighting active commercial moves during F1 testing.
Max Verstappen's unique downshifting method to boost energy recovery has become the talk of Bahrain testing, with rival drivers from McLaren, Williams, and Alpine attempting to replicate it. The technique, which involves an aggressive shift into first gear mid-corner, highlights a key 2026 performance differentiator, though early attempts show varying levels of car control and driver comfort.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc set the pace on the second morning of F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain, but the session was defined by major setbacks for Mercedes and Red Bull. Mercedes completed only three laps before an engine change, while Red Bull's car was mostly sidelined by a hydraulic leak, handing a significant track-time advantage to their rivals with just over a day of testing remaining.
Mercedes‑AMG persuaded the Nürburgring Langstrecken‑Serie to move its 24‑Hour prep races so Max Verstappen can compete, citing his YouTube draw that boosts viewership by up to 750 000 and the driver’s growing GT3 ambitions.
Lewis Hamilton begins his first Ferrari season amid instability, having split with his race engineer and facing a temporary replacement plan. He admits the lack of a settled, long-term partner is "detrimental" to his performance as the championship fight begins.
Toto Wolff has named Red Bull as 2026 favorites, but the declaration is shrouded in suspicion. With Mercedes facing rumors about its power unit's legality, many see Wolff's praise as a strategic ploy to deflect attention and pressure onto Red Bull's new Ford partnership before the season even starts.
Mercedes' Bahrain test hits another hurdle as Andrea Kimi Antonelli's car suffers a power unit failure after just three laps, marking the team's second consecutive day of limited running and raising reliability concerns ahead of the new season.
Carlos Sainz has joined Toto Wolff in highlighting the impressive early form of Red Bull's new Ford power unit for 2026, calling it a 'clear step ahead' based on GPS data from testing. This points to a potential early advantage in the critical area of energy management under the sport's next-generation regulations.
Carlos Sainz agrees with Mercedes that Red Bull's new 2026 power unit showed a "clear step ahead" in Bahrain testing, citing impressive energy deployment data. He emphasized that mastering the integration of energy harvesting and deployment without compromising the driver will be the key to unlocking performance under the new regulations.
Valtteri Bottas says the new Cadillac F1 team is progressing rapidly from solving initial reliability issues to focusing on performance development. He expressed optimism about the team's learning curve and stated the focus is shifting to extracting speed from the all-new car ahead of its racing debut in Melbourne.
Mercedes' Toto Wolff has declared Red Bull's new in-house F1 power unit the current performance benchmark, citing its superior energy deployment as a key advantage. The engine impressed with immediate reliability in testing, putting rivals on notice.
