Lando Norris
McLaren
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Williams
Racing Bulls
Aston Martin
Haas
Alpine
Ferrari finished the 2026 F1 Bahrain pre-season test with Charles Leclerc setting the fastest lap time, but many engineers in the paddock are concerned about their turbo.
Leclerc posted a 1:31.922 on Friday evening to end the second Bahrain test on top by a huge 0.879 seconds over Lando Norris of McLaren. But single-lap speed can be easy to misjudge during testing because of the unknowns, such as each team’s fuel loads and engine settings.
What is more important is race pace. And Craig Slater reports after speaking with “various” engineers throughout the paddock in Bahrain that Ferrari only appear to be the third-best team ahead of the 2026 F1 season, which begins at the Australian Grand Prix on March 6-8.
A number of engineers in the Bahrain paddock have even developed concerns that the small turbocharger that Ferrari have fitted in their V6 engine could pose a detrimental trade-off. It has seen Ferrari make rapid starts during the test in Bahrain, but it may backfire in the races.
Mercedes completed more than three-times as many laps as Aston Martin during the second week of testing in Bahrain!
Which team has impressed you the most? Let us know!
Photo credit: Joe Portlock/Getty Images
F1 engineers think Ferrari’s small turbo could be a ‘problem’ at power-sensitive tracks
Ferrari have developed their new engine with a small turbo to combat the issues that some of their rival teams have faced avoiding turbo lag during their practice race starts, due to F1 removing the MGU-H (which was a vital tool in previous seasons) with the 2026 regulations.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1’s 2026 engine and aero regulations
But while Ferrari get off the line quickly and do not have to maintain high revs for as long as their rivals to avoid turbo lag, some F1 engineers now fear the Scuderia’s turbo might cause Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton issues at power-sensitive tracks like Albert Park and also Monza.
Slater said on Sky Sports News (20/02, 16:47): “McLaren are slightly ahead of Ferrari, based on the efficacy of that Mercedes power unit this season. And also because some engineers have told me they have concerns about the small turbo in the Ferrari power unit.
“Now, it’s very good for starts, we’ve seen that. They’ve made lightning starts. But could that be a deficit and a problem, particularly on power-sensitive tracks, places like Spa, and Monza, and Silverstone, and maybe even Albert Park, the first race of the season?”
The F1 paddock tips Mercedes to lead McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull into the 2026 season
The F1 paddock thinks Mercedes are the team to beat in 2026 after testing. Do you agree?
Slater adds that after speaking to people in the paddock at testing in Bahrain, there is now a general “consensus” that Mercedes are the team to beat heading into the first round, ahead of McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull. Many believe Mercedes’ engine is giving McLaren an edge.
The F1 paddock also expects there will be “a bit of a gap” back from the big four teams, with Alpine and Haas fighting to be the best of the rest, ahead of Racing Bulls and Audi. Williams have often seemed “a bit undercooked”, but should be in front of Cadillac and Aston Martin.
Slater added: “These are based on conversations I’ve had with team personnel, people with a direct window into GPS traces, that kind of thing, and with a viewpoint on how things will play out over the course of the season.
“So, we’re looking at which are the best all-round cars, as far as we can tell leaving testing at the moment. And the first thing to say is, I think circuit-specific form will be a big aspect of this season. So, with that in mind, and is a consensus view, Mercedes seem to be slightly ahead of the pack. We haven’t seen the best of that power unit yet.”
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