Bahrain GP in Malaysia 2026: Russell says Red Bull strongest
BBC Sport
Overview
Red Bull were tipped as the team to beat at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, according to George Russell and Charles Leclerc.
Key Takeaways
- Red Bull's Pace: Both Russell and Leclerc acknowledged Red Bull's strong performance, despite their drivers not achieving the fastest times during practice.
- Leclerc's Commentaries: Leclerc noted that while he was fastest, his teammate Isack Hadjar made mistakes, and Max Verstappen did not complete a soft-tyre run due to potential rain.
- Red Bull's Underlying Pace: Despite the second and fourth positions, Red Bull's underlying pace was considered superior by the competitors.
- Mercedes' Challenges: Mercedes drivers, including George Russell, are working on evaluating significant upgrades, focusing on addressing overheating and degradation issues.
- Race Preparation: Verstappen emphasized the importance of preparing for the race, suggesting his team is focused on setting up the car for optimal performance.
Quotes
"...the Red Bull is standing out this weekend so far." - Charles Leclerc
"I don't think we are the most competitive... normally when they put something on the car it works." - Charles Leclerc
"Currently, Verstappen looks very fast and the race pace of the McLaren looked very quick but never say never." - George Russell
Technical Insights
- Red Bull's Success: Red Bull's technical director Pierre Wache expressed surprise at their performance, suggesting their recent package improvements are working better than expected.
- Mercedes' Upgrade Evaluation: Mercedes is focusing on set-up adjustments to tackle overheating and degradation issues with their car upgrade introduced since June.