Piastri and his teammate Lando Norris showed consistent performances throughout the three-day period, facing only minor setbacks along the way.
Oscar Piastri believes that none of his Formula 1 competitors will have the confidence to challenge Max Verstappen and Red Bull at the start of the next season. Although neither the three-time champion nor his team led the times during last week’s pre-season test in Bahrain, the general feeling in the paddock was that the Dutchman and the reigning constructors’ champions were comfortably leading the pack.
The RB20, with a visibly distinct bodywork compared to its dominant predecessor that secured victory in 21 out of 22 races last season, represents a clear improvement over the RB19. This sends a threatening message to all rival teams.
Despite McLaren challenging Red Bull on several occasions last year after introducing significant improvements to their car in Austria and Singapore, Piastri believes that the team has not closed the gap during the winter.
Assessing Red Bull’s progress, Piastri commented, “They don’t seem to be slow, for sure. On the first day, Max showed immense strength, and Sergio Perez seemed more comfortable on the last day. They are the team to beat. I’m not sure of the extent of their advantage, but it’s probably enough… yes, it’s enough to feel comfortable. As for the others, I’m not sure, but I believe Red Bull is still the favorite.”
Piastri and his McLaren teammate Lando Norris delivered consistent performances throughout the three-day period, facing only minor obstacles along the way.
McLaren team director Andrea Stella acknowledged that their technical department did not address all the concerns from the previous season during the winter break. However, he noted a significant improvement compared to previous years.
Sharing his perspective on McLaren’s position ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, Piastri stated, “I would like to believe that we are positioned at the front of the grid. Currently, I don’t feel that we are in a position to challenge Red Bull. I don’t think anyone on the grid feels that way at the moment. However, I think we are somewhere towards the front.”
