P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren shocked by ‘strong’ Red Bull after testing
McLaren CEO Zak Brown shared his thoughts on Red Bull’s competitiveness before the 2026 F1 season opener. As teams gear up for pre-season testing, Mercedes showed reliability with 500 laps completed, but Red Bull surprised many.
Williams opted out of the Barcelona shakedown, while Red Bull faced setbacks with last month’s private tests. McLaren also encountered issues, cutting testing short due to a fuel systems problem.
Brown acknowledged Red Bull’s strong engine performance and competitiveness, noting that they could pose a threat in the upcoming season. The 2026 F1 season kicks off in Melbourne on March 8, with pre-season tests in Bahrain scheduled before the official start.
