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It has been two intense weeks at the Sakhir circuit. Formula 1 arrived in Bahrain carrying a long list of doubts and technical question marks, all waiting for answers. Six days of testing allowed teams to log valuable mileage and sketch out an initial competitive order, while in parallel the F1 Commission worked behind the scenes to bring clarity to several key issues.
As the paddock prepares to head to Melbourne, the championship does so with a few more certainties. Terms such as “coasting” and “harvesting” will remain central to the conversation, as energy management continues to define this new generation of power units. Charging and discharging the battery sits at the heart of regulations that have effectively transformed the traditional internal combustion engine into a highly sophisticated electrical generator.
Within this framework there is cautious optimism. When Formula 1 is called upon to present a united front, it often shows its best side in trying to reduce or solve shared problems. A glimpse of what we may see during the season was already visible between the opening and closing days of testing in Sakhir. In just six days of on-track running, several issues were addressed and some critical points softened.
This does not mean that the Australian Grand Prix weekend in Melbourne will be free of controversy or technical headaches. However, with the fundamental guidelines of the current power unit regulations defined five years ago, there is little value today in wasting time looking for someone to blame.
The priority now is to identify short-term corrective measures and long-term structural solutions. The engine settings tested in Bahrain — aimed at reducing excessive lift and coast and encouraging overtaking — offer a clear indication of the direction being explored.
A collective effort is required, setting aside individual interests for the greater good of the sport. Reducing electric power output and/or extending the operating window of the internal combustion engine are options that could even be introduced before Melbourne, but the FIA does not want to act impulsively. Two race weekends — Australia and China — have been set aside to gain a clearer picture before any regulatory intervention is made.
Ferrari solid, but the hierarchy remains tightly packed
On the sporting front, Bahrain staged the first chapter of what promises to be a long battle stretching over the next ten months. There were confirmations, starting with Mercedes, which had already shown encouraging signs during its closed-door Barcelona shakedown. For Toto Wolff, positive indications arrived both from the track — the W17 continues to improve and is becoming increasingly difficult to hide — and from the FIA, which has given a favorable opinion regarding the legality of the 2026 power unit.
At the top of the final timesheets, Charles Leclerc’s P1 naturally grabbed headlines and fueled expectations. Ferrari’s work across the test was marked by consistency: the mileage accumulated and the day-by-day progression of the SF-26 are encouraging signals, as was the car’s launch performance off the line — another key topic ahead of Melbourne.
However, caution is required when placing the Scuderia within a hypothetical early-season hierarchy. Behind Mercedes, a compact group appears to be forming, consisting of Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull. Separating these teams is difficult given the variables, fuel loads and hidden parameters that always characterize winter testing.
The SF-26 looks like a well-born car backed by a reliable power unit, but McLaren should not be underestimated. The Woking team arrived in Bahrain carrying a few extra kilograms and running a different power unit specification compared to the works Mercedes squad. “I won’t go into detail,” said Andrea Stella, “but we had an engine available that allowed us to complete all the planned work. And that was exactly what we needed in this test.”
In Melbourne, the cards will finally be laid on the table — and Red Bull will also be ready to insert itself firmly into this fight. The competitive unknowns will fuel anticipation ahead of the Australian round — and that is the beauty of sport. The technical questions, however, are expected to find solutions as quickly as possible.
It may take several races to gain a definitive understanding of the competitive picture. Yet in the face of the epochal revolution that Formula 1 is preparing for ahead of the 2026 World Championship, this is almost an inevitable price to pay.
Feb 22, 2026
