Feb.16 (GMM) The guessing game over who is leading Formula 1’s new 2026 era has descended into open finger-pointing in Bahrain.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff insists Red Bull-Ford is clearly in front – a claim now echoed by George Russell.
“They’re not just a small step ahead,” Russell said. “We’re talking about a lead of half a second to a full second per lap. It’s quite frightening to see such a difference.”
But the accusation has been met with disbelief from within the Red Bull camp.
“Who comes up with something like that?” laughed Liam Lawson, whose Racing Bulls car also runs the Red Bull power unit. “A second? Sorry, but that’s ridiculous.”
Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache also rejected the suggestion.
“The others are better at traction out of slow corners,” he said. “Also at top speed, especially with low fuel. Slow and medium-speed corners haven’t been our strengths in recent years.
“It’s hard to say, but we’re certainly not the benchmark. We clearly see that Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren are ahead of us.”
When reminded that Wolff had praised Red Bull’s new engine as the clear benchmark, Wache smiled.
“I wouldn’t say we’re the benchmark, but we have to acknowledge that our engine team has done a fantastic job. To build an engine as newcomers and then perform well on the track is a tremendous achievement.”
Ferrari, meanwhile, has kept a notably low profile – something Frederic Vasseur appears to relish.
“The best thing is that no one talks about us,” the Frenchman smiled. “And I like that.
“The balance of power? Nobody knows yet. Nobody knows whether Mercedes is getting everything out of its engine or not. It looks like it’s not.”
Nevertheless, Ferrari’s pace has begun to attract attention.
“Ferrari is definitely in a better position than feared,” said former driver Ralf Schumacher. “There were a lot of rumours, alleged problems with the crash tests, issues with the carbon fibre. But everything looks good here.”
Even reigning champions McLaren have pointed towards Maranello.
“As far as race pace is concerned, I can confirm that Ferrari’s speed in the simulation that Lewis Hamilton recently drove was very competitive,” said team principal Andrea Stella.
“At the same time, there was also one from Kimi Antonelli in the Mercedes and one from Oscar Piastri in our McLaren. I see that Antonelli and Hamilton were both faster than us in the race simulation.”
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, however, sees it differently.
“I think Red Bull showed a little bit more than Mercedes and they’ve been very impressive,” he said. “I think Mercedes is hiding a massive amount, and only time will tell how much they’ve been hiding.”
Leclerc ultimately dismissed the debate as premature.
“I think everyone is trying to pass the ball to each other,” he said. “That’s normal at this point in the season, also because it’s so difficult to understand.
“Now that the hybrid and especially the electric motors are so much more powerful, there are so many small optimisation possibilities that you can hide the car’s true potential in many different ways. Therefore, it’s very, very difficult for us to understand exactly where we stand.”
Join Grand Prix Tours in Austin, Texas for the high-energy 2026 United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Experience nonstop action on one of Formula 1’s most exciting tracks, featuring dramatic elevation changes, thrilling overtakes, and a packed race weekend. Off the track, enjoy a festival atmosphere with live music, world-famous BBQ, and buzzing nightlife. Your Grand Prix Tours package includes a fully curated race weekend, highlighted by exclusive access to our private F1 Celebrity Talk Show, where guests gain insider insights and behind-the-scenes perspectives. With demand soaring and this event quickly becoming a modern American racing tradition, now is the time to secure your spot for an unforgettable Austin Grand Prix experience.
SHOW PACKAGES
There are motorsport events, and then there is the Indianapolis 500, the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing." Next year marks Grand Prix Tours' 42nd Indianapolis 500 tour and our decades of experience and local connections provide exclusive access that few fans ever enjoy, including police escorts on race day, a Dallara IndyCar Factory tour, Gasoline Alley and Legends Day, the Driver Introduction Ceremony, and a private dinner with former Indy driver Derek Daly. Combined with excellent hotel accommodations, seamless event planning, and Grand Prix Tours' signature service, this is far more than a race weekend; it's a once-in-a-lifetime motorsport experience. With tour spaces limited each year, we encourage you to reserve your place early for the 111th Indianapolis 500.
SHOW PACKAGES
Experience Formula 1 at its most iconic with an unforgettable trip to the 2027 Grand Prix de Monaco. Feel the excitement as the world’s best drivers race through the legendary streets of Monte Carlo, surrounded by superyachts, Mediterranean views, and the unmistakable glamour of Monaco. From incredible race viewing to carefully selected accommodations, Grand Prix Tours brings you closer to the action at one of the most prestigious and spectacular events in all of motorsport.
SHOW PACKAGES
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the ultimate test of speed, strategy, and endurance. Watch the world's top manufacturers battle for 24 nonstop hours in one of motorsport's most prestigious events. With Grand Prix Tours handling your accommodations, transfers, and ticket options, all that's left is to experience this unforgettable bucket-list race.
SHOW PACKAGES
Feel the roar of Formula 1 at its spiritual home. Silverstone is one of the fastest and most demanding circuits in the world, where brave overtakes, lightning-fast direction changes, and flat-out commitment separate the best from the rest. Combined with the electric atmosphere created by hundreds of thousands of passionate fans, the British Grand Prix delivers a race weekend unlike any other.
SHOW PACKAGES