P1racenews AI automatic summary:
F1 News Today: Hamilton Ferrari set for huge upgrade as F1 rivals accused of going backwards
Lewis Hamilton had a positive first week of testing in Bahrain, setting impressive lap times with his Ferrari, positioning them as title contenders for the 2026 season. Despite not being the best team, there is potential for Ferrari, led by Hamilton, to start as favorites. F1 expert Sam Collins mentioned there is more to come even after a strong showing in Bahrain.
In contrast, George Russell stated that Mercedes might have regressed in terms of performance and reliability during testing. There are speculations that Mercedes was concealing their true pace during testing for strategic reasons. Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen hinted that Mercedes is hiding their advantage and will reveal their full potential later.
An amusing incident occurred during testing involving F1 expert Sam Collins, highlighting the unpredictability of the sport. Aston Martin had a disappointing testing period but remains optimistic about improving their pace. Lance Stroll acknowledged the need for significant improvements to challenge top teams like McLaren and Mercedes.
