The McLaren pre-season Bahrain test has provided the first meaningful insight into how Formula 1’s leading teams may stack up ahead of the 2026 season, with McLaren team principal Andrea Stella acknowledging that both Ferrari and Mercedes currently appear to hold an edge in race simulations.
While pre-season testing is always clouded by uncertainty — fuel loads, engine modes, and experimental setups masking true performance — the longer runs completed during the latter stages of the Bahrain test began to lift some of that fog. Across Thursday and Friday, teams shifted focus away from headline lap times and towards sustained race pace, offering a clearer snapshot of underlying competitiveness.
From McLaren’s perspective, the picture is encouraging but incomplete. Stella believes his team remains firmly in the leading group, yet admits that early indications suggest Ferrari and Mercedes may have found a stronger baseline as the paddock prepares for the season opener in Melbourne.
Four-team lead group begins to emerge
One of the clearest takeaways from the McLaren pre-season Bahrain test is the emergence of a familiar front-running quartet. Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren all appear to have avoided major missteps with their 2026 challengers, forming a clear lead group ahead of the rest of the field.
Mercedes grabbed early attention with smooth and reliable running during its Barcelona shakedown, while Red Bull impressed observers with the efficiency of its new hybrid system — a notable achievement given its status as a first-time power unit manufacturer under the revised regulations.
Ferrari, however, may have been the quiet achiever. Initially operating below the radar, the Scuderia steadily built momentum in Bahrain and ultimately completed more laps than Mercedes once its rival encountered reliability issues later in the test.
Ferrari’s long runs catch McLaren’s attention
Ferrari’s growing confidence did not go unnoticed by McLaren. Strong long-run performances from Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton stood out during the latter half of testing, particularly when compared directly with McLaren’s own race simulations.
Speaking after the final day, Stella confirmed that Ferrari’s pace over extended stints appeared highly competitive.
“In terms of race pace, I can confirm that the race pace of Ferrari looks pretty competitive,” Stella said. “In the simulations we observed — including runs from Hamilton, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and Oscar Piastri — both Ferrari and Mercedes looked quicker than us.”
Stella also referenced Leclerc’s long run earlier in the test, describing it as “at the same level” as Ferrari’s later simulations, reinforcing the idea that the Italian team has achieved consistency rather than producing a one-off performance.
Mercedes still setting a benchmark despite setbacks
Although Mercedes experienced technical issues during the second half of the Bahrain test, its overall performance still left a strong impression. Race simulations from Andrea Kimi Antonelli suggested that the Brackley-based team remains a reference point when it comes to sustained pace.
For Stella, the data pointed toward a narrow but noticeable gap between McLaren and its two rivals at the top.
“I think Antonelli and Hamilton were quicker than us in the race simulation,” he said. “That doesn’t mean the picture is complete, but in terms of early indications, Ferrari and Mercedes belong at the top of the list.”
Despite that admission, Stella was careful to emphasize that pre-season testing rarely tells the full story — a reminder that has proven accurate many times in Formula 1 history.
Red Bull expected to be firmly in the mix
While Ferrari and Mercedes dominated much of the Bahrain conversation, Red Bull was never far from the discussion. Stella believes the Milton Keynes outfit is “very well equipped” and sees no evidence that any of the traditional top four teams have missed the mark under the new regulations.
Red Bull’s hybrid efficiency, particularly its energy harvesting and deployment, drew praise throughout the paddock. With power unit performance playing a larger role in 2026, those early signs suggest Red Bull could be a decisive factor once competitive running begins.
From McLaren’s viewpoint, this reinforces the idea that the season could open with four teams capable of fighting at the front, rather than a single dominant force.
Why testing pace should be treated with caution
Despite openly discussing McLaren’s relative position, Stella urged caution when interpreting any conclusions drawn from the McLaren pre-season Bahrain test. Differences in fuel loads, engine modes, and experimental software can dramatically distort apparent lap time gaps.
“I just invite everyone to be careful looking too much into what we see in testing,” Stella said. “Testing gives early indications, not final answers.”
That caution extends not only to lap times but also to how teams are learning to operate within Formula 1’s increasingly complex hybrid systems.
Drivers adapting to counterintuitive techniques
One of the most intriguing aspects of the new regulations is how they are reshaping driving techniques. Stella explained that extracting maximum performance from the power unit may require approaches that feel unnatural, even to experienced drivers.
“At times you have to do some counterintuitive things from a driving point of view to maximise the exploitation of the power unit,” he said.
This includes lifting and coasting before braking zones — even during qualifying — and harvesting energy through high-speed corners rather than attacking them flat-out. Such techniques mark a significant shift from traditional driving instincts developed throughout a driver’s career.
Chassis performance remains the ultimate differentiator
Despite the added complexity of hybrid systems, Stella insists that the fundamentals of Formula 1 performance remain unchanged. Aerodynamic efficiency and cornering speed will still determine success, particularly at circuits like Melbourne.
“This doesn’t change much in terms of chassis requirements,” he explained. “You still want as much downforce as possible because you still want to be fast in the corners.”
According to Stella, the car that wins the Australian Grand Prix will be the one that best balances aerodynamic performance with competitive power unit deployment — not simply the team that adapts most aggressively to hybrid management.
Melbourne likely to reward the most complete package
As teams turn their attention toward the season opener, Stella believes the early races will reward overall balance rather than specialization. The fastest car in Melbourne, he says, will combine strong downforce, efficient aerodynamics, and a power unit capable of both effective harvesting and deployment.
“The fastest car in Melbourne will be fastest in the corners and competitive from both an internal combustion and electric point of view,” he said.
In that sense, Formula 1’s growing complexity does not dilute its core principle. Instead, it reinforces it.
McLaren confident but realistic heading into the season
For McLaren, the McLaren pre-season Bahrain test has delivered a clear message: the team is close, competitive, and firmly in the fight — but not yet the benchmark. Ferrari and Mercedes appear to hold a small early advantage, Red Bull remains a looming threat, and nothing is settled before racing begins.
Still, with limited testing and a rapidly evolving development race ahead, Stella remains optimistic.
“This is a complex Formula 1,” he concluded. “But I think we will get used to it.”
As history has shown, early impressions often shift once the lights go out. And when they do, McLaren intends to be ready.
