Overview
- A chaotic practice start at the end of Bahrain testing, in which Franco Colapinto lost control near stationary cars, sharpened worries about complex launch procedures that drivers say can require roughly 10 seconds of turbo preparation.
- Oscar Piastri called potential use of straight-line mode at race starts a “recipe for disaster,” and McLaren’s Andrea Stella urged immediate clarification so every car can accelerate normally off the grid before Melbourne.
- Leading drivers escalated criticism of the 2026 energy‑management demands, with Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton questioning the new driving feel as George Russell and Piastri described having to alter long‑learned cornering habits to recharge batteries.
- The pecking order remains hotly debated after the first Bahrain test, with Mercedes figures suggesting Red Bull‑Ford holds up to a one‑second advantage while Red Bull personnel dismiss that claim and point to Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren as quicker.
- Red Bull acknowledged weight challenges on the RB22 and saw chief designer Craig Skinner step down, as Aston Martin endured low mileage and severe pace concerns that Lance Stroll estimated at around four seconds per lap before the Feb. 18–20 Bahrain test resumes.