Helmut Marko: “We expected more from Ferrari, they were a bit disappointing” | Bahrain F1 testing. Helmut Marko was not impressed by the Ferrari SF-25 seen on the first day of F1 testing.

Ferrari does not win over Helmut Marko: just one day of testing in Bahrain, and it is already “disappointing.” The Red Bull consultant is instead fully satisfied with the RB21, which, according to him, has resolved all the issues encountered last season. While the SF-25 did not impress, the Austrian is eyeing McLaren and Mercedes, which have instead shown potential throughout the day.

We haven’t even landed in Melbourne yet, and the traditional psychological games between teams have already begun. All the top experts in the field resist the temptation to express any judgment on the pecking order after just eight hours of testing. Helmut Marko, however, does not, choosing to downplay Ferrari’s work. The Maranello team is said to be disappointing compared to the potential whispered about on the eve of testing.

Indeed, the paddock has been filled with all sorts of rumors. According to a widely circulated gossip throughout the day, the SF-25 was already considered better than the new McLaren. From what we saw on track, we can neither confirm nor deny such an assumption—it is simply far, far too early to say.

Helmut Marko’s judgment on the Ferrari SF-25

At the end of a decidedly positive day for Red Bull, the Austrian super consultant made some interesting comments: “Our long runs were very competitive, they were the fastest [of all],” he explained to GPBlog. “The car is more predictable and reacts normally. All the problems we had last year, I believe, have now improved a lot or been resolved.”

“In the morning, at the start, the wind made driving more difficult, especially yesterday. The wind was really tricky. But these are just tests. However, it’s much colder, so maybe that’s why Mercedes is so fast. McLaren was also very consistent and very fast. Ferrari was a bit disappointing because we expected more from them. However, there are still two days of testing left, so we’ll see.”

Red Bull: Is a major upgrade package already ready?

Another rumor spreading in recent hours concerns a potential—and significant—upgrade package coming for Red Bull. According to Motorsport Magazin, as early as Friday, February 28, a completely revised RB21 should hit the track. This news would partly explain why the car looks so similar to last year’s RB20.

Everything remains to be confirmed, but undoubtedly, teams will focus most of their work in the early phase of the championship. With 2026 approaching, a significant portion of available resources will soon shift toward developing the new cars. Those fighting for the championship might face a decision that could also impact next season.