McLaren has expressed concern regarding Red Bull Racing’s performance at the recent Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, where Max Verstappen secured his first victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Team Principal Andrea Stella noted a significant shift in the competitive order following the event at the Sepang International Circuit.
The Woking-based team found itself unable to contend for top positions during the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri qualified sixth and seventh respectively, trailing pole-sitter Verstappen by six tenths of a second.
Stella indicated that McLaren’s car package was the fourth strongest in terms of overall performance at Sepang. He conceded that even with optimal strategic decisions, a finish higher than Piastri’s sixth place would have been unlikely.
Red Bull’s RB22, powered by a Ford-branded unit, demonstrated superior straight-line speed during the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend. This advantage was particularly evident in qualifying, where Verstappen secured pole position.
Verstappen’s victory at Sepang marked his first win of the current 2026 season, following a period where he had achieved seven podium finishes in nine races. His performance in Malaysia has highlighted Red Bull’s recent step forward in pace.
Meanwhile, Mercedes faced its own challenges at the Bahrain Grand Prix. George Russell retired from the race due to a power unit failure, impacting his championship aspirations.
Russell’s retirement has led to the prospect of multiple grid penalties in upcoming races, including Singapore and the United States Grand Prix in Austin. Mercedes had planned to introduce an upgraded power unit specification (ADUO) in Austin.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff confirmed the team brought a major upgrade package to Sepang. However, the team struggled to understand its performance, with qualifying results suggesting a loss of pace.
Wolff stated that Mercedes cannot easily revert the upgrade due to parc ferme regulations and the car’s redesigned internal cooling architecture. The team must now work to optimise the new package for the remainder of the season.
In other team developments, Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen’s long-time race engineer, will depart Red Bull Racing at the end of 2027. He is set to join McLaren as Chief Racing Officer no later than 2028, reporting directly to Andrea Stella.
Lambiase will continue in his current role as Verstappen’s race engineer until the conclusion of the 2026 season. His move is part of McLaren’s ongoing strategy to strengthen its talent pool.
The Sepang International Circuit served as a stand-in host for the Bahrain Grand Prix this year. The circuit is known for its demanding characteristics, including high-speed corners and challenging conditions.
