Ranking the 2026 Grid After the Final Test

 

The Sakhir Assessment: Ranking the 2026 Grid After the Final Test

As a lifelong fan at Senate Grand Prix who has spent three decades in this paddock, I know that "testing isn't a race"—but it is a confession.

After three weeks across Barcelona and Bahrain, the teams have stopped hiding their baseline potential.

I base this blog on my research, trackside observations, and discreet conversations with the architects of this new era. 

Here is the Senate Grand Prix assessment of the 2026 pecking order.

Mercedes F1® The Tip of the Arrow

Toto Wolff may be playing the quiet game, but the data screams efficiency. 

Mercedes leaves Bahrain as the "Mileage King," racking up 1,204 laps across the shakedown and tests. 

While they didn't chase the headline lap on the final day, my sources suggest they are holding back significant performance. If they have truly mastered the "Cylinder Boost" thermal expansion, they arrive in Melbourne as the team to beat.

Ferrari F1® The Sharpest Blade

Ferrari has made the most visible progress of any team. 

Charles Leclerc signed off testing with a monstrous 1:31.992—the only sub-1:32 lap of the entire fortnight. The "flippy" rotating rear wing isn't just a gimmick; it’s a symbiotic masterpiece.

Combined with the most stable race-start performance on the grid, the Hamilton-Leclerc pairing looks ready to hunt.

McLaren F1® The Reigning Challenger

Last year’s champions aren't the early benchmark, but they are firmly in the

"Big Four." Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have looked tentatively confident, with the car appearing settled on long runs. 

They crossed the 1,000-lap mark with ease, proving that, while they might be slightly behind the Mercedes/Ferrari power curve, they are not.

Red Bull F1® The Disciplined Giant

Max Verstappen’s RB26 looks every bit the benchmark in his hands. 

The new Red Bull-Ford engine has been remarkably reliable for a first-time effort. While they haven't chased glory laps, their energy deployment characteristics remained the most consistent in the paddock throughout week two. Red Bull looks solid, silent, and dangerous.

Alpine F1® The Stealth Rise

Alpine is the "fly in the ointment." The switch to Mercedes power units has transformed the A526 into a stable, high-mileage package. They haven't brought eye-catching upgrades, but they’ve stayed in the top six for lap counts. 

Pierre Gasly and Valtteri Bottas have a reliable tool that could surprise the established giants in Melbourne.

Haas & Audi: The Midfield Hunters

Haas: A massive surprise, finishing second in total lap counts (1,175 laps). The Ferrari-powered VF-26 looks well-put-together and remarkably "vice-free."

Audi: After a rocky start in Barcelona, Audi found their feet in Bahrain. Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg have run consistently, looking like a solid midfield contender right out of the box.

Williams F1® The Interesting One

Undeniably reliable, but the car never truly "came alive." In Bahrain, Williams looked stuck between the midfield and the backmarkers. They needed the softest compounds to match the middle of the pack, suggesting they have significant weight or mechanical grip issues to solve before Australia.

Cadillac F1® The Reality Check

The "will Race T" looks stunning, and watching their first pit crew practices was a highlight of the week. However, the optimism of the launch is meeting the harsh reality of the stopwatch. They are smooth and reliable for a new outfit, but currently reside toward the back as they learn the "know-how" of F1® racing.

Aston Martin F1®: The Mystery Crisis

This has been the heartbreak of testing. 

The Honda partnership is currently echoing the struggles McLaren faced years ago. With only 394 total laps—the lowest on the grid—and consistent battery and spare part issues, the AMR26 is in dire shape. Lance Stroll’s assessment of being "four seconds off" might be an exaggeration, but the crisis is real.

We are now only two weeks away from the Australian Grand Prix. The mystery of the "Great Reset" is about to be solved.

And as always, when the lights go out and the drama unfolds, here at Senate Grand Prix, there is only one winner, and that's you, the race fans!

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