George Russell Admits Tough Bahrain F1 2026 Start

Formula 1, Sportrik Media - George Russell has conceded that Mercedes endured a “difficult” opening day at the 2026 Formula 1 Bahrain pre-season test, acknowledging that rivals have established an early advantage.

The Brackley-based team entered Bahrain under intense scrutiny following its strong performance at the Barcelona shakedown last month. At the same time, Mercedes remains at the centre of technical discussions regarding its power unit compression ratio interpretation, an issue rival manufacturers want clarified before the season opener.

However, as testing commenced at the Bahrain International Circuit, the anticipated momentum from Spain did not immediately translate into performance.

Russell handled driving duties during the morning session, completing 56 laps in the opening four hours. Despite the mileage, the British driver was candid in his assessment of the W17’s behaviour.

“We've had a difficult first day here in Bahrain,” Russell told media.

“We had a solid three days on track in Barcelona, but we haven't hit the ground running here in the Middle East.”

He explained that the team experimented with broader balance settings, but the car lacked the responsiveness shown during the earlier shakedown.

“We were experimenting with the overall balance of the car this morning, but it didn't feel as responsive as it did in Spain.

“That is partly to do with the higher track temperatures but there's work for us to do to get the W17 into a happier place.”

Higher ambient and track temperatures in Sakhir, combined with gusting desert winds, are known to complicate aerodynamic correlation and tyre operating windows, particularly under new regulatory frameworks.

In the afternoon, team-mate Kimi Antonelli took over the cockpit. However, a set-up issue limited his track time significantly, causing him to miss three of his allocated four hours — further constraining Mercedes’ data-gathering programme.

With Red Bull Racing and McLaren posting strong mileage and leading the timesheets at the end of Day 1, Russell admitted Mercedes faces immediate pressure to respond.

“Our competitors, particularly Red Bull Racing and McLaren, have once again impressed as they did in Barcelona,” he said.

“It's clear that we've got ground to make up and we are already working hard to do so.”

The combination of limited afternoon running and an unconvincing morning balance leaves Mercedes in catch-up mode as the first of two three-day Bahrain test blocks continues.

While pre-season lap times remain influenced by fuel loads, deployment strategies, and programme variations, Russell’s remarks underline that Mercedes is not yet operating within its optimal performance window.

With only limited testing days available before the season opener, the team’s ability to resolve balance inconsistencies and maximise the new-generation power unit’s potential will be critical in determining whether it can challenge Red Bull and McLaren at the front of the grid.