Formula 1 2026: Russell Labels Red Bull Advantage “Scary”

Formula 1, Sportrik Media – George Russell has described Red Bull Racing’s current advantage as “pretty scary” ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season, citing what he believes to be a significant edge in energy deployment.

During pre-season testing in Bahrain, Red Bull’s new power unit package — developed in collaboration with Ford — attracted widespread attention across the paddock. The Milton Keynes-based squad is running its own in-house engine for the first time, and several drivers and senior figures have pointed to its apparent efficiency, particularly in straight-line performance.

Amid ongoing discussion surrounding an alleged compression ratio interpretation involving Mercedes AMG Petronas, Russell insisted the focus should instead be directed toward Red Bull’s pace advantage.

“I’m not really involved, I don’t really know much about this compression ratio topic,” Russell told media including RacingNews365.

“I don’t think anybody should be looking at us. You should be looking at the most competitive car on the grid right now, which is the Red Bull.”

According to Russell, the difference in deployment performance could be as much as half a second to a full second over the course of a lap — a margin he considers substantial under the new 2026 regulations.

“They’re not just a small step ahead. You’re talking in the order of half a second to a second in deployment over a lap. It’s pretty scary to see that difference.”

Russell suggested the advantage appears to stem not solely from aerodynamic efficiency but from the integration between hardware and energy management strategy.

“Red Bull has always delivered a very good car over the past 15 years, even when they didn’t have the strongest engine. This test has been really eye-opening for a lot of us.”

He also referenced GPS data from sister team Racing Bulls, which uses the same power unit. The team’s strong straight-line figures reinforce Russell’s belief that the advantage lies beyond chassis configuration alone.

“If a car is much faster on the straight, it can be internal combustion power, energy deployment, or lower drag. But when you look at Racing Bulls with the same power unit and they’re also very strong on the straight, it clearly suggests the gain is somewhere between the hardware and the deployment.”

With the season opener approaching, Russell’s assessment underscores the competitive benchmark Red Bull appears to have set at the dawn of the 2026 era, intensifying pressure on rival manufacturers to respond before the championship battle begins in earnest.