New cars, same mind games: What we learned from initial Bahrain tests

A three-day trip to Bahrain kicked off the first leg of Formula 1's official preseason, with another visit planned this week. For many, this was the first chance to see the new 2026 cars up close, and there are more than a few conclusions to draw from the early tests.

Here are five things we learned from the initial running in Bahrain.

Not all drivers love the new rules, cars

According to some drivers, people like you and I are capable of driving the new cars. Leave it to Fernando Alonso to suggest that even the team's chef could handle these cars due to the reduction in speed required at certain corners to manage the power unit's battery.

Alonso wasn't the only one to criticize the new regulations. Lewis Hamilton mentioned that the cars are more fun to drive but otherwise agreed with Alonso - which almost never happens - on the increased need to manage the electrical component of the power unit. "That's not what racing is about," Hamilton said. The seven-time champion also doubted that viewers will be able to digest all the new rules and changes, quipping that an academic degree is needed to understand them.

However, no one ripped the new regulations as much as Max Verstappen, who's never shy to make his opinion known. The Red Bull driver said the new cars aren't fun to drive and compared the regulations to "Formula E on steroids."

I don't know what else to do about it, you know. It isn't the original Formula 1 feeling any more.

So, has F1 made a mistake with the increased focus on the electrical output of the engines? It's possible, but plenty of others, such as George Russell, are willing to give the new rules a chance. After all, these are some of the brightest engineering minds in motorsports. The grievances that are evident today may become minor nuisances in the months and years ahead.

What is for sure, though, is that this new era of racing is going to look and feel wildly different than any other before it.

Mercedes may lose its fearsome silver bullet

Much has been made of Mercedes allegedly exploiting a loophole that allows the German team to run a higher compression ratio when the engine is hot as a result of compliance tests only being conducted under ambient temperature. Whether Mercedes will be allowed to keep the advantage appears more uncertain than ever following the first tests in Bahrain.

Team boss Toto Wolff, who says he's received assurances from the FIA on the power unit, believes his rivals were worried about being embarrassed and thus began lobbying the FIA. The governing body said earlier in February that it wants the matter resolved before the first race of the season.

Introducing new ways to test compression ratios would require four of the five engine manufacturers to vote for the change in addition to F1 management and the FIA. The initial stage likely won't be difficult with Ferrari, Audi, Honda, and Red Bull powertrains all wanting to stop their rival. That means the outcome would surely rest in the hands of F1 and the FIA.

Nobody wants to be the front-runner

The sentiment from Bahrain's on-track running was that the top four teams from last season will almost certainly remain unchanged to start this regulation cycle. That doesn't mean Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren are willing to admit it, though. Hiding pace is a tale as old as time in F1, and the mind games have clearly begun, as the four teams spent the week trying to avoid being labeled the early favorite.

Kimi Antonelli and Russell posted the fastest times of the week, but Mercedes claimed that Red Bull is the team to fear most because of its efficient electric motor. Russell even alleged the new power unit manufacturer had a "half a second to a second" advantage in terms of electric deployment per lap.

Verstappen accused Mercedes of using diversion tactics to cover its own advantage, telling Dutch media, including Autosport's Ronald Vording, "Wait until Melbourne and see how much power (Mercedes will) suddenly find." Pierre Wache, Red Bull's technical director, upped the ante, slotting in his team as the fourth best currently.

McLaren's Andrea Stella said he'd put Ferrari and Mercedes at the top due to their lap times during a race simulation. And then there was Charles Leclerc, who placed Red Bull and Mercedes ahead of Ferrari on account of the former's impressive power unit and a belief that the latter is "hiding a lot more," per Motorsport's Ben Vinel and Roberto Chinchero.

No one wanted to leave Bahrain as the pack leader, but the top competitor can only hide for so long.

Aston Martin nearly in crisis mode

"Engine, balance, grip."

Yes, that's the blueprint for creating a good race car, but it's also the list of areas in which Aston Martin, according to Lance Stroll, has fallen behind.

That begs the question: Where exactly is the AMR26 up to par? Based on the Bahrain tests, the answer is probably "nowhere."

Aston Martin completed the fewest number of laps this week due to numerous problems, including a "data anomaly" with the new Honda power unit that deterred the team's opening day. Even when the AMR26 was on track, the car failed to put up a respectable lap time.

Stroll estimated that Aston Martin was roughly four seconds off the pace of the top teams, and he was right on the mark. The Silverstone-based team hasn't been afraid to admit that it's behind schedule, but that doesn't alleviate the shock that's come from this nightmarish start to the partnership between Alonso, Adrian Newey, and Honda.

Audi fooled us in Barcelona

I touched upon possible surprise innovations in my preview ahead of the Bahrain tests, and sure enough, Audi delivered the first one of the 2026 season. After making a rather ordinary and noiseless debut in the private Barcelona shakedown, the team showed up to Bahrain with new sidepods that are slimmer and vertical in nature.

From there, Audi enjoyed a productive week of testing in the desert, sliding into the middle of pack in terms of overall lap time and mileage. And for a new team, there's nothing better than looking like you belong.

Daniel Valente is theScore's lead Formula 1 writer. Follow Daniel on X at @F1GuyDan.