« The Benchmark »: Wolff Admits Red Bull, Not Mercedes, Sets F1 2026 Standard
Mercedes boss concedes rival has « done a very good job » after Bahrain testing reveals superior energy deployment and straight-line speed
Toto Wolff has delivered a stunning assessment of Formula 1’s new competitive landscape, declaring Red Bull — not Mercedes — as the current benchmark after the opening day of Bahrain pre-season testing .
The Mercedes team principal, whose squad had been installed as bookmakers’ favorites following a dominant Barcelona shakedown, acknowledged that Red Bull’s new Ford-partnered power unit has established an early advantage that his team cannot currently match.
Hoping for Worse
« Well, I was hoping that they were worse than they are, because they’ve done a very good job, » Wolff admitted with characteristic candor. « The car, the power unit are the benchmark at the moment, I would say. And then obviously you have Max in the car. That combination is strong » .
The Austrian’s comments came after Max Verstappen completed 136 laps on the opening day of Bahrain’s first pre-season test, setting the top speed through the speed trap while demonstrating superior energy management compared to the field .
A Second Per Lap
Wolff’s analysis went beyond mere lap times, highlighting a fundamental performance gap in power unit deployment. Red Bull’s ability to sustain electrical energy delivery over multiple laps has created a significant straight-line advantage.
« Look at the energy deployment today, » Wolff explained. « They are able to deploy far more energy on the straights than everybody else. On a single lap we’ve seen it before, but now we’ve seen it on 10 consecutive laps with the same kind of straight-line deployment. Speaking of a second per lap, over consecutive laps » .
When asked directly whether Mercedes could match that level of deployment, Wolff’s response was unequivocal: « Today, no » .
The Compression Distraction
Wolff’s praise for Red Bull came amid intense scrutiny over Mercedes’ own engine controversy. The Brackley squad has faced accusations from Ferrari, Audi, and Honda regarding its interpretation of compression ratio regulations — a dispute that has dominated headlines during the opening test .
Despite the « secret meetings » and « secret letters to the FIA » that Wolff claims rivals have orchestrated, the Mercedes boss insisted his team’s power unit is fully legal while acknowledging that Red Bull has simply executed a superior program .
Mercedes’ Bahrain Struggles
The contrast with Barcelona — where Mercedes completed over 500 laps across three days — was stark. George Russell encountered an interrupted morning session due to garage procedure delays and balance issues causing brake locking and poor traction .
Trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin described the day as « difficult, especially compared to the near-perfect running that we had in Barcelona, » though he noted the challenges highlighted areas requiring improvement before Melbourne .
The New Reality
Wolff’s admission represents a significant shift in preseason expectations. After years of Honda-powered dominance, Red Bull’s transition to in-house power unit manufacturing with Ford backing was widely viewed as a potential vulnerability. Instead, the Milton Keynes squad appears to have maintained its competitive edge while Mercedes grapples with both technical challenges and regulatory controversy.
As the first Bahrain test continues, Wolff’s benchmark assessment sets up a fascinating dynamic for the 2026 season. The team that has defined the turbo-hybrid era now faces the unfamiliar position of playing catch-up — not just to its traditional rivals, but to a power unit program in its rookie season.
With three more days of testing before the second Bahrain session (February 18-20), Mercedes has limited time to close the gap Wolff has so publicly acknowledged. The Australian Grand Prix on March 8 will reveal whether Red Bull’s early advantage translates into championship dominance, or whether Mercedes can recover the ground its team principal has conceded.
Sources
- ESPN: « Toto Wolff: Red Bull, not Mercedes, the F1 2026 benchmark » (February 11, 2026)
- RACER: « Red Bull the benchmark based on early running, says Mercedes’ Wolff » (February 12, 2026)
- Motorsport.com: « Toto Wolff on F1 engine row: ‘Until Friday, I had the impression that things wouldn’t change' » (February 11, 2026)
- Sky Sports: « F1 power unit dispute: Toto Wolff admits rule change would be ‘quite damaging’ to Mercedes » (February 11, 2026)
- Last Word on Sports: « Toto Wolff: Red Bull gaining ‘a second per lap’ on the straights » (February 12, 2026)
- Threads/Motorsport: « Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff thinks Red Bull has set the ‘benchmark' » (February 11, 2026)