Max Verstappen shuts down Red Bull performance rumors with witty Bahrain testing response. Max Verstappen shares his impressions after the first days of F1 testing in Bahrain,.

Verstappen: “I think the engine is heading in the right direction. Where are we with the car? I only know we are in Bahrain…”

Max Verstappen expressed satisfaction with Red Bull’s new power unit after the first official days of testing in Bahrain. When asked about the team’s position in the standings, the Dutch driver responded with a humorous remark, reflecting his cautious optimism about the start of the season.

Red Bull: Verstappen pleased with the debut

In the paddock, most observers expected Red Bull to face at least some initial difficulties on the engine side, given it is their first season developing power units independently with Ford. However, the first days of official testing revealed a promising package, with a power unit that delivers strong performance. Early teething issues appeared instead on the chassis side, with rookie Isack Hadjar unable to run this morning due to a hydraulic leak.

Despite this, Max Verstappen remained unconcerned and was ready to return to the track to complete the first phase of testing in Bahrain. From his comments, it is clear he is satisfied with the overall package in hand and, above all, with a power unit that has so far proven reliable.

Verstappen’s words

“I don’t know what position we are in. I only know that I am in Bahrain,” Max Verstappen joked when asked about the team’s standing. “It’s impossible to say because you don’t even know if your rivals are running at full power or not. For me, it’s always very difficult to draw conclusions from testing. Yesterday we focused solely on ourselves, trying to do many laps without problems. And that went well.”

“It’s exciting to race as a new engine manufacturer, seeing the new car and the new power unit together. It’s like they are children. There’s still a lot to learn, of course, but at least I think we are heading in the right direction. Certainly, there are things we want to improve, and I think we will never be completely satisfied. But at least there are no breakdowns, and I don’t think anyone expected that,” Max Verstappen added. “We did many laps without major issues. That was our goal: to really understand these regulations, the engine, and the car, making sure everything is reliable. It’s an ongoing learning process. The mood is good even after the issue with Isack. We are working with new rules, so there is a lot of attention to detail, and there are still many things we need to fix. It’s all very complex, and I’m sure there will still be many issues to resolve at the start of the season.”

Max Verstappen’s measured optimism regarding the Red Bull-Ford partnership suggests that the team has successfully navigated the most daunting aspects of their transition to an independent engine manufacturer. While the complexity of the 2026 regulations ensures that the learning curve remains steep, the reliability shown in Bahrain provides a solid foundation for the team to refine their performance before the racing begins in earnest.