P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull has categorically denied that it is the team to beat in F1 following suggestions of an energy deployment advantage surfacing in Bahrain.
Red Bull firmly denied being the team to beat in Formula 1 despite talk of an energy deployment advantage in Bahrain. During the first pre-season test in Bahrain, Red Bull impressed with reliability and consistency on the track, particularly in how well their car exited corners. Technical Director Pierre Wache refuted claims of a significant advantage, stating that it’s hard to determine the competitive order based on testing times with teams running different programs. Wache emphasized that Red Bull is not the benchmark and acknowledged that Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren appear to be ahead after the initial analysis. He highlighted the challenges faced by Red Bull with the current regulations and the need to focus on improvement. Max Verstappen also expressed concerns about the new cars, likening them to “Formula E on steroids.”
