At Bahrain’s Sakhir circuit, McLaren appeared to be slightly ahead of their competitors, thanks to some impressive race-simulation laps that really caught everyone’s attention. These simulations offer the most reliable hints about a team’s true competitiveness during testing because they eliminate one crucial variable. Teams simulate a complete race distance, providing a known fuel level, even though other settings, like engine modes, may not be directly comparable between cars.
On the second day of testing, McLaren’s Lando Norris ran a race simulation alongside Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Norris’s pace was astonishing. He would have clinched the ‘race’ by over 30 seconds, averaging more than 0.5 seconds faster per lap than his closest rivals. In this scenario, Leclerc would have finished about two seconds ahead of Antonelli.
The final afternoon saw Norris’s teammate, Oscar Piastri, running against Mercedes’ George Russell. Even then, the McLaren proved quicker, although the gap was not as pronounced; Piastri was about 0.2 seconds per lap faster than Russell, translating to a hypothetical margin of just over 10 seconds. Notably, Piastri’s advantage came almost entirely from the first stint, where he was 0.5 seconds faster; in the subsequent stints, McLaren’s lead shrank to just 0.05 seconds.
Comparing times across the two days is tricky because Thursday’s cooler, less windy conditions were more favorable. F1 cars perform better in cool weather since increased air density boosts downforce and engine performance, while wind disrupts aerodynamic efficiency.
Over a single lap, McLaren’s speed wasn’t particularly exceptional, but testing isn’t always telling in this respect. In terms of single-lap performance, McLaren seemed on par with Ferrari, the Red Bull driven by Verstappen, and Mercedes.
Despite the promising data, McLaren wanted to moderate any excitement about being ahead. Andrea Stella, the team principal, advised caution in interpreting Norris’s performance. He noted that Bahrain’s typically calm conditions seemed to favor McLaren, suggesting that the weather that day aligned well with the car’s preferences.
Stella highlighted that these conditions possibly hid some of McLaren’s usual weaknesses in Bahrain. Traditionally, this track—with its slow corners and traction-heavy layout—doesn’t naturally suit McLaren’s car, particularly under Bahrain’s usual heat.
However, there’s another perspective. If McLaren exhibits this pace on a track that’s not their forte, how might they perform at Melbourne’s Albert Park? This circuit should play to their strengths with its medium-speed corners and low-grip surface, requiring a strong front end more than a powerful rear.
In a press conference alongside Verstappen and Leclerc, Norris remarked, “If we want to improve anything at the moment, it’s the rear, but the rest of it feels correct and in line with expectations. We don’t anticipate being vastly ahead of everyone else. We aim to be competitive against the guys beside me. If we start strong, that’s what counts.”
