Kimi Antonelli first and sly in Bahrain: "We are all close"

Mercedes in Bahrain flew again as predicted, with Kimi Antonelli in particular proving to be the fastest on track in Thursday’s test in Sakhir. However, the young Mercedes driver at the end of the day decided to espouse a low profile, rejecting at least for the moment the general belief that the very team based in Brackley represents the big favorite ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Or, at the very least, the attempt seems to be to diminish the great expectations towards the Anglo-German team.

Marco Enzo Venturini

“We managed to complete the program we set out to do, finishing the day in first place. This is all positive, but the gaps between the leaders are already now very small. Those of today were just a few hundredths – stressed a sly Antonelli at the end of the day -We are happy, however, that we are increasingly recovering the ground we had lost in the first test this year in Bahrain. We will always push hard, we want to finish this work in the best way”.

In other words, Antonelli explained that Mercedes’ current priority is not to get the fastest times on the track, but to see the W17 grow more and more. “Our goal before we started these last tests was just that – added the young Emilian -. We hope to make the most of tomorrow as well. Before we go to Melbourne we only have one day to go on track, so every lap will be important. We are working on the set-up of the Mercedes, as well as some launched laps. The’goal is to fight for the top positions in Australia”.

Another team that breathes a certain optimism is Ferrari, so much so that team principal Frederic Vasseur has taken a liking to joke about the Cavallino’s new rear wing. Which, as he confessed to the French press, he wanted to rename “Macarena”. Lewis Hamilton was also very satisfied, despite some problems in the morning. “But everyone gave a great show as a team, allowing me to get back on the track in the afternoon. I am happy” he admitted.

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The impression of a very positive atmosphere at Ferrari&#8217s home remains, however, as shown by an otherwise cautious Charles Leclerc. “The SF-26 looks like a good car from the outside during testing, but I think it is still too early to draw conclusions. Everyone is hiding their game and trying to make people believe that the’other team is the fastest. We are not really sure where we”re at, said the Monegasque driver.