Red Bull's 'mighty impressive' testing pace puts rivals on alert

Carlos Sainz and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff were left awed by Red Bull's dominant performance on the first day of pre-season testing in Bahrain, with GPS data suggesting the reigning champions are already a "clear step" ahead of the competition. Max Verstappen's metronomic long-run pace and 136 laps of trouble-free running in the new RB22 sent a formidable early message to the grid.

Why it matters:

With sweeping new technical and power unit regulations for 2026, establishing an early performance and reliability benchmark is critical. Red Bull's ability to hit the ground running with a new engine from Red Bull Ford Powertrains—while others are still finding their feet—could create a significant advantage heading into the season opener, potentially demoralizing rivals before the first race even begins.

The details:

• Rival Assessment: Carlos Sainz, after analyzing the data, confirmed Red Bull's advantage was not marginal but a "clear step," a sentiment echoed by Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff who labeled them "the benchmark."
• Verstappen's Stint: The most telling sign was Max Verstappen's consistent long-run pace, which was quicker than any other driver's and demonstrated both speed and remarkable reliability for a brand-new car.
• Williams' Recovery: Sainz's own team, Williams, enjoyed a smooth day with 77 laps from the Spaniard, a positive recovery after missing the Barcelona shakedown due to unspecified "bumps in the road" during the winter.

What's next:

All eyes will be on whether Red Bull can maintain this formidable pace and reliability throughout the remaining test days. For the chasing pack, including Ferrari and Mercedes, the immediate task is to analyze the data gap and find performance before the cars return to the Bahrain International Circuit for the season-opening Grand Prix in one week. The first race will reveal if this was merely a strong test showing or the sign of another season of Red Bull supremacy.