Here’s a bold statement: despite Red Bull’s groundbreaking in-house development of both their car and engine for the 2026 F1 season, the team believes they’re only the fourth-fastest on the grid. But here’s where it gets controversial—how can a team with such a ‘remarkable’ new power unit and a dominant driver like Max Verstappen still see themselves trailing behind Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari? Let’s dive in.
Red Bull’s Technical Director, Pierre Wache, recently shared his candid assessment of the team’s pre-season progress and their standing among rivals. After the opening test in Bahrain, Red Bull estimates they’re behind the top three teams in outright performance, despite the impressive work of their new power unit division. And this is the part most people miss—this is the first time Red Bull has designed both their car and engine entirely in-house, marking a new era for the team. Drivers Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar have praised the powertrain’s performance and reliability, but the team remains humble about their current position.
Reflecting on the first three days of testing in the Sakhir desert, Wache noted, ‘It’s been a positive week, especially with Max completing a full day of testing. We’ve gained valuable insights into the car’s behavior and the direction we need to take with the power unit.’ However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. On the second day, hydraulic issues on the chassis side disrupted Isack’s morning session, though the team recovered in the afternoon. By Friday, both drivers evaluated setups and found promising directions, but Wache emphasized, ‘There’s still a lot of room for improvement, especially on the balance side.’
Here’s the bold part: Wache openly admits Red Bull is fourth in the early 2026 pecking order, a trend where teams often downplay their own strengths while highlighting rivals. ‘Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari are clearly ahead,’ he stated. ‘We’re on a massive learning curve with plenty of unknowns, but our focus is on improving the car based on driver feedback and addressing identified weaknesses.’
As Bahrain hosts the final pre-season test this week, Red Bull’s journey is far from over. With a startup power unit division achieving the remarkable feat of track-ready performance in just three-and-a-half years, the team’s potential is undeniable. But the question remains: Can they close the gap to the top three by the season’s start? What do you think? Is Red Bull being overly cautious, or are they genuinely behind? Let’s spark a debate in the comments—do you agree with Wache’s assessment, or do you see Red Bull as a dark horse ready to surprise everyone in 2026?
