P1racenews AI automatic summary:
None of the top F1 teams believe McLaren is at the head of the 2026 pack – so is it really only fourth best?
While Formula 1’s top teams have differing views on who is leading, they all agree that McLaren is not at the forefront currently. Mercedes considers Red Bull as the benchmark, while Red Bull places Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren ahead of itself. Ferrari sees Mercedes and Red Bull as slightly ahead, and McLaren itself acknowledges Ferrari and Mercedes as frontrunners.
There is uncertainty whether the reigning champion, McLaren, is genuinely lagging behind or strategically laying low. The complex nature of testing makes it challenging to determine relative team performance accurately due to energy management tactics.
Based on long-run data and McLaren’s messaging, it appears that McLaren is not as strong as desired. However, the situation may change before the season begins as McLaren seems to be catching up in a crucial area according to some race simulations.
Comparative simulations from the Bahrain test show McLaren not as comfortable as Mercedes and Ferrari. Team principal Andrea Stella admitted Ferrari’s race pace looked competitive, with Hamilton and Antonelli faster than McLaren.
Despite McLaren’s current position, conclusions should not be solely based on one reference of race runs. Testing has shown that McLaren needs to improve, but the final verdict on their performance will only be clear when the season starts.
