Bahrain test analysis: McLaren’s race simulation stands out, Ferrari tests bold solutions. McLaren delivers an eye-catching race simulation with Oscar Piastri .

Yesterday, McLaren impressed on race pace with Oscar Piastri, while Ferrari focused on setup work and new technical updates during the latest day of Formula 1 testing in Bahrain.

Formula 1 still has no clear benchmark, but the Mercedes-powered teams are beginning to make some noise. Andrea Kimi Antonelli claimed the fastest time of yesterday with the W17, while McLaren grabbed attention thanks to Oscar Piastri’s full race simulation. Ferrari, forced into the garage in the morning due to a technical issue, still managed to make headlines: first with the inverted movable rear wing tested by Lewis Hamilton, and later with an impressive launch practice at the end of the session.

Race pace runs

On the evening of the penultimate day of testing, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri were the only front-running drivers to complete full race simulations, using the same tyre compounds and running in comparable track conditions. Just as with qualifying simulations, teams have tools at their disposal to hide their true potential over long runs, which is why Verstappen’s consistent pace is the most encouraging sign for the RB22’s overall package.

However, the lap times deserve closer analysis, especially considering McLaren’s strong performance. In last week’s simulations, the Woking-based team had appeared to struggle compared to its direct rivals.

The first stint on the softer C3 compound went Red Bull’s way. Oscar Piastri was initially stuck behind Verstappen for several laps, and once in clean air he continued to lap slightly slower than the Dutchman, possibly with tyres already affected by time spent in dirty air.

The remainder of McLaren’s simulation, however, was very positive. On average, Oscar Piastri lapped around four tenths faster than Red Bull in the second stint and two tenths quicker in the third stint, both on the C2 compound. It is difficult to determine how much each team was holding back in terms of power unit deployment, but today’s performance represents the first genuine statement from the reigning world champions.

A comparison, Italian style

Mercedes adopted a different approach, dedicating the evening to performance runs without revealing all its cards. Antonelli not only set the fastest time of the day but also the quickest lap of the entire two-week test, a sign that teams are progressively learning how to extract more performance from the new cars.

This development curve will not stop in Melbourne. If anything, it reinforces the idea that whoever leads the championship after the Australian Grand Prix will still have to fight hard to defend that position.

Ferrari, having lost valuable track time in the morning due to technical trouble, opted not to complete a full race simulation. At the end of the session, Lewis Hamilton posted a lap six tenths slower than Antonelli’s Mercedes benchmark, a figure that means little without knowing fuel loads, engine modes and other parameters. Even so, the body language of the SF-26 did not look entirely convincing in this context, with the Ferrari driver forced to correct the car’s line through several corners and, at times, aborting laps altogether.

Updates arrive

The second test session has also provided plenty of interest on the development front. Ferrari is currently stealing the spotlight. After introducing a flap mounted behind the exhaust, the Scuderia ran an inverted movable rear wing, so unusual that it initially appeared to be a technical issue. Instead, it sent an encouraging signal about Maranello’s design boldness.

For now, the SF-26’s rear wing remains an experimental solution awaiting approval for race use. Together with innovations seen on Audi and Alpine, it underlines how active aerodynamics will be a central development battleground this season.

The evolution of the new-generation cars has already begun. Since arriving in Bahrain, Ferrari has fitted a new floor and front wing, Mercedes has revised its sidepods and floor, while Red Bull has updated its front wing and bodywork. McLaren is the only top team yet to introduce visible upgrades, although team principal Andrea Stella had already stated that the MCL40 for Australia would be very similar to the launch specification. All the more reason to keep a close eye on the reigning champions, especially once their first upgrade package arrives.

Key off-track issues

No less important are the political matters unfolding away from the track. One such issue is the proposal to extend the starting procedure, which is why the FIA chose to simulate the full process at the end of both daily test sessions.

Ferrari and customer team Haas, both powered by the Maranello-built power unit, delivered particularly impressive launch performance in the evening, suggesting strong low-end response. Much has been said about a potentially smaller turbo, but the plenum design also plays a significant role in low-RPM power delivery.

It is nevertheless striking that there appears to be a general struggle with starts, given that turbo lag is hardly a new problem and one that Formula 1 already dealt with decades ago.

Finally, there is the ongoing debate over the alleged Mercedes power unit solution capable of increasing compression ratio. Engine manufacturers will vote on introducing a mandatory hot test at 130°C starting in August. If approved, it will be interesting to see whether Mercedes considers modifications necessary, whether the FIA grants a waiver to allow them, and whether the associated costs will fall within the budget cap framework.

This promises to be a championship fought on multiple fronts — technical, sporting and political — and we are still waiting to discover the true competitive order.