Toto Wolff picks ‘the fastest car’ on the 2026 F1 grid after watching Bahrain testing

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Toto Wolff has insisted that Mercedes aren’t the fastest team on the grid right now despite their pre-season favourite tag.

While Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time of Barcelona testing, Mercedes were still in daunting form. They were the only team to complete over 500 laps and their preparations are clearly the most advanced.

Long before the 2026 F1 cars had even hit the track, Mercedes were seen as the benchmark in the engine department. That is the basis of their perceived superiority.

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Speaking to Sky Italia in the Bahrain paddock, Wolff insisted that the test in Barcelona was ‘just a Shakedown’. With the winter temperatures in Europe left behind and initial reliability checks largely complete, the running in Sakhir will be more representative.

Toto Wolff insists Red Bull have the fastest car in F1 right now

While Mercedes made an ominous start, Red Bull also impressed in Spain. The Milton Keynes outfit have built their own power unit for the very first time.

But Red Bull and customer team Racing Bulls completed well over 600 laps combined as the brand-new engine ran smoothly for the most part.

Zak Brown was ‘surprised’ by Red Bull’s performance, and Wolff has now paid them the ultimate compliment by suggesting that their engine is ‘most complete’. He believes Laurent Mekies’ squad have built a formidable package.

Is Toto Wolff playing mind games with Red Bull?

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He also admitted that Mercedes aren’t as well-prepared as they hoped at this stage. George Russell found the car trickier to drive during the first session in Bahrain.

“In Barcelona it was just a shakedown,” Wolff said. “For us, Red Bull is the fastest car and their engine is the most complete.

“Are we ready? We don’t feel ready, today the set up and balance we aren’t happy with it like we were in Barcelona.”

Of course, this wouldn’t be the first time that F1’s pacesetters have tried to manage expectations. Red Bull expect to ‘struggle’ at first this year relative to established engine manufacturers.

‘We don’t have an advantage’ – Toto Wolff on F1 engine controversy

Red Bull and Mercedes are on opposite sides of F1’s engine dispute heading into the new season. The Silver Arrows are adamant that their power unit is legal.

But there are accusations that they have exceeded the maximum fuel compression ratio of 16:1 when the engine is hot. The FIA are under pressure to combat this with stricter testing.

Wolff was combative the last time he discussed the issue, but he took a calmer tone on Wednesday, playing down the significance of the supposed loophole.

“We developed our engine for a long time that’s why we are surprised that things could change so quickly,” he said. “Our rivals think we have an advantage, but we know we don’t. However, lobbying in F1 has always been like this.”