George Russell: Bahrain F1 take a look at a "actuality examine" for Mercedes as Purple Bull forward

Mercedes Method 1 driver George Russell says his squad is now on the again foot as Purple Bull is the “staff to beat” firstly of 2026.

Mercedes was placed on the pedestal earlier than the beginning of pre-season testing amid rumours over its highly effective new engine, and its dependable working in Barcelona’s shakedown did little to dispel that the Brackley-based squad was poised to kick off the brand new guidelines period on the entrance foot.

However after the primary take a look at in Bahrain, Mercedes-powered groups have been eager to raise Purple Bull and its first-ever in-house powertrains because the decide of the bunch, pointing to its spectacular power deployment on the straights, which is clearly seen on the GPS traces.

And whereas no staff or energy unit producer would ever present its full hand at this early stage, Russell backed feedback from Williams’ Carlos Sainz and McLaren’s world champion Lando Norris that Purple Bull is now the staff to beat in Melbourne’s opener.

“I do assume this take a look at has been a little bit of a actuality examine for all of us,” he mentioned. “Firstly, [there was] an enormous quantity of chat relating to Mercedes and our energy unit within the winter, all of which is concept as a result of no person is aware of something at that time. And the reality is, Purple Bull on Barcelona day one hit the bottom working and have been nicely forward of all of their opponents, so ourselves, Ferrari and the others.

“Day one right here in Bahrain once more, they kind of knocked out the park. So, in the intervening time, they’re very a lot a staff to beat. So we have got work to do.”

Max Verstappen, Purple Bull Racing

Picture by: Joe Portlock / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures

He added: “They usually’re not only a small step forward. You are speaking within the order of half a second to a second in deployment over the course of a lap. So it is fairly scary to see that distinction.”

Purple Bull is closely disputing that, with its technical director Pierre Wache placing the staff fourth within the pecking order behind a number one trio Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren. Max Verstappen can also be laughing off options Mercedes is behind, as he’s satisfied its energy models will likely be dominant as soon as they’re turned all the best way up in Australia.

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When Motorsport.com put Verstappen’s feedback to him, Russell responded: “Nicely, I hope we have got a giant ace up our sleeve. After all, all people throughout testing, nobody’s working their most efficiency and you are still studying.

“However the fact is that they’ve hit the bottom working much better than each different staff. And after we evaluate ourselves, not solely to Purple Bull, but in addition Ferrari, in addition they look in a superb place. I feel we have delivered a really sturdy automobile this yr.

“After all, the entire chat round our competitiveness for this season was based mostly on the ability unit facet. There will likely be massive growth, however proper now Purple Bull are the staff to beat in that space. It is fairly spectacular what they’ve performed, contemplating they seem to be a brand-new outfit. We hope we are able to catch up.”

Images from Bahrain Pre-Season Testing – Day 3

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari