F1 Testing: Mercedes Dominates, Aston Martin Struggles

The initial F1 pre-season test of the 2026 season has wrapped up, with Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell setting the pace. The three days of running in Bahrain were largely smooth, allowing teams to gather valuable data and better understand their new machinery.

Mercedes and Ferrari demonstrated strong mileage throughout the test, a positive sign for their development. However, Aston Martin faces considerable challenges. A delayed car debut has hampered their progress, and neither the car nor its power unit seems to be competitive, suggesting a difficult start to the season.

Meanwhile, drivers like Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso, and Lewis Hamilton have expressed dissatisfaction with the new cars. Concerns have been raised about energy-deficient power units forcing management modes even during qualifying laps. Furthermore, drivers anticipate that overtaking will be difficult due to the return of turbulence.

Ferrari, on the other hand, showed remarkable reliability with its power unit, completing impressive mileage and posting strong lap times. This suggests they are not starting the new regulations season on the back foot. Williams focused on completing laps, achieving their goal despite the car's current weight.

Questions remain about the overall effectiveness of the new regulations, especially considering the close title fight in the previous season.