P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Red Bull is said to have a potentially crucial edge heading into F1 2026.
Mercedes’ George Russell believes Red Bull has a significant advantage in the 2026 Formula 1 season due to major aerodynamic and power unit changes. Red Bull’s new F1 engine has impressed with its performance and reliability, being praised as the “best on the grid” by Russell. Mercedes’ Toto Wolff labeled Red Bull as “the benchmark” during pre-season testing, hinting at a potential speed advantage of over a second per lap. Despite this, Red Bull dismisses the favorites tag given by Mercedes, suspecting they are holding back pace. The true competitive order in F1 remains a mystery, with all eyes on the season opener in Melbourne for answers.
