Max Verstappen’s fastest lap during the Bahrain pre-season testing put Red Bull in the spotlight, but the times may not tell the full story. While the RB20 showed impressive pace, rival teams’ strategies and fuel loads suggest the true competitive landscape is yet to be fully revealed.
Between the lines
- Verstappen’s headline lap time was 1.1s quicker than the closest competitor, but the margin could be misleading due to different testing strategies.
- Red Bull’s RB20 featured radical updates, including innovative aerodynamics, which caught the eye both on and off the track.
- Despite a few early struggles, the RB20 displayed a promising balance and mechanical stability, hinting at potential tire longevity benefits.
- Rival teams like Ferrari and Mercedes appeared to focus less on low-fuel runs, possibly masking their true pace in comparison to Red Bull.
Go deeper
The Red Bull RB20’s performance on the Bahrain circuit during the first day of pre-season testing seemed to set the bar high. Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, clocked in a lap that was not only 1.1 seconds faster than any other driver but also significantly quicker than his own times from the previous year. However, as we peel back the layers, it’s clear that the timesheet may not tell the whole truth.
The RB20’s design, featuring a radical update to what was already a championship-winning car, was the center of attention. The innovative aerodynamics, including a narrow horizontal slit and ‘bunny ear’ extensions, hinted at the team’s relentless pursuit of performance. Yet, despite the car’s promising display of speed and balance, particularly on the C3 compound tires, it’s crucial to consider the context of these results.
Verstappen’s dominant lap times were achieved during a series of low-fuel runs, which were more frequent than those of his main competitors. Ferrari and Mercedes, for instance, appeared to prioritize longer stints with heavier fuel loads, a strategy that could conceal their true pace. Additionally, the track conditions improved throughout the day, which likely benefited Verstappen’s afternoon sessions.
The true performance of the RB20 will become clearer as testing continues and teams begin to converge on similar programs. It’s also worth noting that pre-season testing is as much about gathering data and understanding the car as it is about raw speed. Red Bull’s chief of trackside engineering, Gianpiero Lambiase, expressed satisfaction with the progress made and the data collected, which will inform their approach over the next two days of testing.
In conclusion, while Red Bull’s performance in Bahrain was undeniably strong, the complexities of pre-season testing mean that we should take these early results with a grain of salt. The true competitive order will only emerge once the lights go out at the first race of the season.