The 2026 season started under the desert lights at the Bahrain International Circuit, and Max delivered exactly what Red Bull needed after a turbulent winter testing period. Pole on Saturday by 0.187s over Norris, then a controlled lights-to-flag run to take the 25 points and bonus for fastest lap on the final tour.

Strategy#

Soft–hard–medium was the optimal call given the track temperature climbing through the second stint. Red Bull pulled the trigger on the first stop a lap earlier than McLaren and that gave Max the undercut that defined the rest of the race. The hard compound held up better than expected — Pirelli’s revised construction for 2026 seems to have killed the graining that plagued last year’s opening round.

Technical observations#

The new RB22 looks settled. The sidepod inlet treatment has clearly evolved from the late-season RB21, and the floor edges are still aggressive. What surprised me was how well the car worked in the slow corners — turns 9 and 10 used to be a weak spot, and Max was setting personal best minisectors there throughout the race.

Championship implications#

Too early to read much into it. Bahrain has historically been a Red Bull track. The real test will be the next two rounds in Jeddah and Melbourne, where rear-end stability and high-speed balance matter more.

Notes#

  • Hamilton’s first race in Ferrari red ended in P5 — solid but not spectacular. He’ll improve as he gets used to the SF-26.
  • The new ground-effect floor regulations have not really changed competitive order. Same teams up front.
  • Sound of the engines is noticeably different with the 2026 power unit changes — the regen sounds I expected to hate are actually fine in person.