Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff says Red Bull and Ford’s 2026 Formula 1 power unit looked like the performance benchmark during the Bahrain pre‑season test. Wolff acknowledged that other teams’ engines — particularly the Red Bull‑Ford combination — showed strong pace, and Mercedes can learn from how competitive they were in testing.
Wolff didn’t suggest Mercedes is falling behind, but he admitted it’s useful to see where rivals are performing well as teams finalize their cars before the season starts. The test showcased how close the field could be under the new rules and highlighted the importance of engine performance alongside aerodynamics and strategy.
Overall, Wolff said understanding competitors’ strengths from Bahrain helps Mercedes refine its own package ahead of the first race of the year.