Charles Leclerc joins Max Verstappen in warning that Mercedes hasn’t yet shown its full hand. After the closed shakedown in Barcelona the Silberpfeile were tentatively handed the favourites’ role, but with the first test week in Bahrain now done many drivers assume Mercedes will set the benchmark. According to Leclerc, the German outfit still has plenty in reserve.
On the basis of the Bahrain results the four traditional top teams – Mercedes, McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari – still appear to be calling the shots. Yet drivers were quick after the test week to play down their own performances. Mercedes immediately pointed to rival Red Bull; according to Toto Wolff Max Verstappen’s team had set the bar exceptionally high in Bahrain. Little surprise, given Mercedes is under intense scrutiny because of its own engine saga. The FIA may still move against the German team’s power unit before the season gets under way.
Ferrari on uncertain ground
Max Verstappen, for his part, accused Mercedes of sandbagging and expects the team to turn up far stronger in Melbourne. Charles Leclerc shares that view. “I think Red Bull has shown a bit more than Mercedes,” he said. “They were very impressive all week. But I think Mercedes is hiding a lot. Time will tell how much pace they still have up their sleeve.”
Still, Ferrari also left a solid impression in Bahrain. Lewis Hamilton posted the third-fastest time of the week, behind George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. The reliability of the SF-26 is notable as well; the team is understood to have run the same power unit since the shakedown in Barcelona. Leclerc said he was pleased with the results but kept his feet on the ground. “Yes, it’s only a feeling,” he said about Ferrari’s showing in Bahrain. “So for now I’m staying cautious. With these new systems there are so many ways to hide your performance. In that respect it’s hard to make a prediction, but in terms of reliability we’re in a good place,” he admitted. “Ultimately you have to deliver on performance, and at the moment we can say little about that.”
