P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell believes Mercedes is not where its rivals think it is in the F1 pecking order
George Russell has challenged the claims that Mercedes was sandbagging during Bahrain Formula 1 testing, stating that the team has actually regressed since the Barcelona shakedown. Mercedes entered the 2026 pre-season testing phase as the favorites to win the world title, but their power unit has been a point of contention due to a regulations loophole. Despite a strong showing in Barcelona, Mercedes ended the Bahrain test with the fastest lap overall, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli leading George Russell on the final day. Several rivals have accused Mercedes of sandbagging, but Russell admits that the team’s pace and reliability have decreased since the Barcelona shakedown. He emphasizes the need for improvement in both areas and acknowledges that Red Bull currently has a strong power unit and performance. Russell points out that Mercedes must focus on enhancing performance and reliability to compete effectively in the upcoming races.
