Lando Norris and George Russell point to Red Bull as early benchmark in Bahrain. Lando Norris and George Russell highlight Red Bull as the benchmark after Bahrain F1 testing.

Norris and Russell warn the grid: Red Bull looks frightening in Bahrain testing

Strong statements have emerged from Bahrain testing, with Lando Norris and George Russell both identifying Red Bull as the current benchmark on the Formula 1 grid. According to the two British drivers, the Milton Keynes-based team may already hold a potentially significant advantage ahead of the season opener.

On the eve of the Bahrain test, much of the paddock conversation revolved around the Mercedes power unit. Many F1 fans feared the possibility of another era of dominance similar to the turbo-hybrid years, should Mercedes once again find a decisive edge under the new regulations.

However, with nearly three full days of running now completed at Sakhir, the spotlight has shifted dramatically. Instead of Mercedes, it is Red Bull that has captured the attention of rivals and observers alike—despite widespread pre-test expectations that the team might struggle more than others following the major regulation changes and the introduction of a new engine project produced in Milton Keynes.

The RB22 surprises the paddock

Contrary to those predictions, the RB22 has emerged as the revelation of the test. It is not only the new power unit, developed in collaboration with Ford, that has impressed, but also the car’s balance and drivability through the flowing corners of the Bahrain International Circuit.

Yesterday, even drivers from Williams openly praised the Austrian team’s new challenger. Such comments, even during testing, rarely come without reason.

Today, two more high-profile names have expressed concern about the pace shown by Red Bull. Of course, these are still pre-season tests, and as always in Formula 1, public statements must be treated with caution. What Norris and Russell have said may partly reflect communication strategy as much as pure analysis.

That said, behind the usual mind games, there is often a kernel of truth.

George Russell and Lando Norris wary of the RB22

“The advantage Red Bull has is frightening,” declared the Mercedes driver. “Recently you’ve been focusing on our compression ratio. I think you shouldn’t be looking at us, but rather at the most competitive car on the grid: the Red Bull.”

“We’re not talking about a small advantage here. On the contrary, we’re talking about a gap between half a second and a full second. It’s quite scary to see that difference. Red Bull has always produced an excellent car over the last 15 years, even when they didn’t have an exceptional engine,” Russell added.

The reigning world champion shares the same view as his compatriot. According to Norris, in terms of outright performance, the RB22 currently looks stronger than the McLaren MCL40.

“They have an exceptional power unit. They manage it well and have very high efficiency. We need to understand how they’re able to have this advantage. The Ford engine also seems to be quite strong—credit to them.”

Early warning or testing mind games?

Red Bull has already proven in the past that it can interpret major regulation changes better than its rivals. If the Milton Keynes project confirms its competitiveness once engines are running at full power and fuel loads are optimized for qualifying, the chasing pack could face an uphill battle from the very first races of the season.

At the same time, Formula 1 testing has always been fertile ground for strategic messaging. Teams hide true performance, sandbagging is common, and narratives can shift dramatically once the stopwatch counts for real.

For now, somewhere between pre-season tactics and genuine concern, one certainty stands out: the RB22 has shifted the focus of attention across the grid. Whether that attention turns into dominance will be answered only when the lights go out for the first Grand Prix.

The alarm bells ringing at Mercedes and McLaren suggest that Red Bull’s transition to becoming an independent engine manufacturer with Ford has been far smoother than the competition hoped. While much of the winter was spent debating Mercedes’ technical “silver bullet,” the RB22’s poise in the Sakhir wind indicates that Adrian Newey’s final project and the Milton Keynes engine division have delivered a car that is ready to win out of the box. If Russell’s estimate of a one-second lead is even remotely accurate, the 2026 season might start with the rest of the field simply fighting for second place.