When a motorsport discipline decides to revise its regulations, dramatic changes are inevitable. Proof of this can be seen, for example, in the beginning of the Mercedes era after Red Bull's long reign when, in 2014, hybrid engines were introduced to replace 100% combustion engines. Whether this revolution will actually lead to a reversal of the balance of power in F1 remains to be seen. Certainly, the tests in Bahrain and, even earlier, the shakedown in Barcelona have made it clear who will not be in the game. We are talking about Aston Martin, a second-tier team, but one that had a lot at stake in 2026, having secured the services of engineering heavyweight Adrian Newey, from whom everyone expected yet another stroke of genius.
The first narrative of the new Circus therefore tells us of a green team that is decidedly out of shape. And while the son of team owner Lance Stroll spoke of a car that was as much as four seconds slower than the others, veteran Fernando Alonso remained silent, concerned about facing a season that will be uphill, to say the least.
Red Bull, on the other hand, is putting fear amongst its rivals. Many laps have been accumulated to put the new Ford power unit under stress, and no reliability issues have emerged.This is definitely good news for the Milton Keynes team, which dreams of regaining the constructors' crown it abandoned in 2024, were it not for the discontent of Max Verstappen, who is not at all enthusiastic about the new direction of the top series. "The sensations are not what you would expect from an F1 car. It seems like Formula E on steroids," was the Dutchman's colorful outburst, to which world champion Lando Norris promptly responded.
"Our sport is constantly evolving. We are paid an exorbitant amount to drive, so I don't think we are in a position to complain. Every driver is free to look for something else to do; no one is forcing us to be here. If he wants to retire, he can do so," was the jab, followed by praise for the new cars.
The British McLaren driver, leader of the first day in Sakhir and backed by an MCL40 that immediately appeared solid, took advantage of the first statements from one of his direct rivals for 2025 to kick off the psychological games even before the start of the World Championship. It was a bit like what happened a few days ago when the teams appeared unusually united against Mercedes, whose engine is capable of increasing the compression ratio when hot, generating a technical advantage.
Despite this controversy, which is still to be resolved, the W17 appears to be well designed, proving fast with both George Russell and Andrea Antonelli.
Encouraging signs are also coming from Ferrari, clearly one of the most anticipated teams in the fight for the title. Despite fears on the eve of the race, the Scuderia performed well, often occupying the top positions and proving to be fast. For his part, however, Charles Leclerc preferred to call for calm and not fuel hopes. "Red Bull and Mercedes are slightly ahead. Then there's us, but the gap doesn't seem huge," he told the media at the circuit, finally revealing the existence of several PU adjustments that would allow the true potential of the cars to be concealed, thus making this first taste of 2026 even less significant or revealing.