After the first major test of the new Formula 1 generation, Max Verstappen remains cautious: the world champion still sees a lot of work to be done at Red Bull.
After the first shakedown of the new 2026 Formula 1 generation, Max Verstappen still sees room for improvement at Red Bull.
The four-time world champion completed his first extensive laps in the new car on Friday in Barcelona and drew a cautious conclusion. “There is still a lot of work to be done,” Verstappen explained after testing the new Red Bull Ford Powertrains engine.
Formula 1 held a five-day private test in Barcelona this week, with all eleven teams having a maximum of three test days at their disposal. The background to this is the comprehensive rule reform for the 2026 season. In addition to the new technical regulations, Red Bull faces an additional challenge. The team is entering the fray as its own engine manufacturer for the first time, supported by a technical partnership with Ford. More than 20 years after entering Formula 1, this marks the team’s debut as a powertrain supplier.
Verstappen: New regulations are very complex
The assessment of the starting position is correspondingly cautious. Although Red Bull has four-time world champion Verstappen in its ranks, the team is not among the early favorites. The test in Barcelona was also not ideal. On Monday, Red Bull left all of Verstappen’s driving time to his new teammate Isack Hadjar. Verstappen himself did not get behind the wheel until Tuesday morning, but driving time was limited by changeable conditions. In the afternoon of the same day, Hadjar had an accident, which meant that the team did not return to the track until Friday. According to reports, Verstappen completed 118 laps there, ending a solid but not flawless week of testing.
“Everything is still in development, but I think we’ve made a pretty good start with the basics,” Verstappen told F1 TV. “The new regulations are very complex for everyone. There’s still a lot to do, but that’s normal.”
Mercedes confirms high expectations
Mercedes, on the other hand, made a strong impression. The team completed the most laps in Barcelona, with young driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli even completing a full race simulation on Wednesday.
Mercedes is currently considered the favorite for the constructors’ title, not least because of its dominance during the last major engine change in 2014. The team also made a confident impression in the paddock. George Russell drove the second-fastest lap of the week, with only Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton faster.
“I think it was a very positive test,” said Russell. “We racked up a lot of mileage, which was the main focus. The car feels good, there were no major issues and no porpoising. That’s good news.”
This represents a significant improvement for Mercedes. After eight years of dominance, the title streak ended with the introduction of ground effect cars in 2022, and the team has been without World Championship success ever since. Despite the good test performances, Russell urges caution. “On the powertrain side, there are some impressive things from some of the competitors, which is a bit surprising, to be honest,” said the Briton. “After three days of testing ahead of a 24-race season, you shouldn’t read too much into it.”
Russell also emphasized that new engine manufacturers had made a solid impression. “Many expected new suppliers to struggle, but they also had a good test. For us, the season will show where we really stand.”