Piastri and his teammate Lando Norris showcased consistent performances throughout the three-day period, encountering only minor setbacks along the journey.
Oscar Piastri believes that none of his Formula 1 competitors will have the confidence to go up against Max Verstappen and Red Bull at the beginning of the upcoming season. Although neither the three-time champion nor his team topped the timesheets during last week’s pre-season test in Bahrain, the general sentiment in the paddock was that the Dutchman and the reigning constructors’ title holders were comfortably leading the pack.
The RB20, featuring visibly distinct bodywork in comparison to its dominant predecessor that secured victory in 21 out of 22 races last season, represents a clear improvement over the RB19. This sends an ominous message to all rival teams.
Despite McLaren challenging Red Bull on multiple occasions last year after introducing significant upgrades to their car in Austria and Singapore, Piastri believes that the team has not closed the gap over the winter.
Assessing Red Bull’s progress, Piastri commented, “They don’t appear to be slow, that’s for sure. On the first day, Max displayed immense strength, and Sergio Perez seemed more at ease on the final day. They are the team to beat. I’m unsure of the extent of their advantage, but it’s probably sufficient… yes, it’s enough of an advantage to feel comfortable. As for everyone else, I’m not certain, but I do believe that Red Bull is still the favorite.”
Piastri and McLaren teammate Lando Norris delivered consistent performances throughout the three-day period, encountering only minor obstacles along the way.
McLaren’s team principal, 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 heading into the Bahrain Grand Prix, Piastri stated, “I’d like to believe that we’re positioned towards the front of the grid. I don’t currently 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 do think that we are somewhere towards the front.”