Red Bull’s real advantage over Ferrari (and others) is slimmer than it appears from Bahrain test. Red Bull's advantage over Ferrari is smaller than it seems.

From the F1 tests in Bahrain, it’s evident that Red Bull is the car to beat, but attention should be paid to the margin from Ferrari: it’s slimmer than it seems.

Red Bull and Ferrari are closer than it appears from the F1 Bahrain tests. The first day of testing saw Max Verstappen dominate the competition, but under conditions that others did not fully exploit. The substantial lead is justifiable due to different testing programs and optimal track conditions during the fast laps. The championship is still wide open.

Formula 1 arrives in Bahrain for the first on-track tests. The first day provided some answers but also raised many questions. The Ferrari SF-24 proves to be very positive, especially in terms of drivability and tire management, the two main goals for Maranello. McLaren and Mercedes also perform well, while Red Bull excels (perhaps a bit too much).

The Milton Keynes team seems to have outperformed the competition, but all that glitters is not gold. In an unexpected move, considering his usual demeanor, it is Helmut Marko who brings the Austrians back down to earth. In a statement reported by German automobile magazine Auto Motor und Sport, the super consultant stated that “the advantage is not as significant as it seems.”

“We were the only ones to go out on the track with new medium tires in the cooler evening hours – explained Helmut Marko – This explains the significant advantage gained in the afternoon. We estimate the real advantage to be about three-tenths of a second.” – he pointed out.

This sentiment seems to echo the sentiments coming from Ferrari. The men in Red don’t seem to be intimidated by Red Bull, although the feeling is that Max Verstappen remains the top favorite for the championship. Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren, on the other hand, seem very close.

Source: f1ingenerale

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