Like Pitpass, four-time world champion, Max Verstappen is sceptical of Toto Wolff's claim that the Red Bull power unit is the current benchmark.

Earlier this week, Wolff cited the Red Bull power unit as the one to beat.

"Look at the energy deployment today," he told reporters on the first day of testing. "They are able to deploy far more energy on the straights than everybody else.

"Over consecutive laps," he continued. "On a single lap we have seen it before, but now we have seen it on ten consecutive laps with the same kind of straight-line deployment.

"I would say that as per today, on the first official day of testing, which is always with a caveat, they have set the benchmark today," he insisted.

Since then his claims have been echoed by several drivers, all of whom just happen to be driving Mercedes-powered cars, at a time the German manufacturer is embroiled in a bitter row over the legality of its engine.

Smoke and mirrors is how we called it, and Verstappen agrees.

"Let's look back at the last ten years of winter testing," said the Dutchman. "I don't think you can say who is the world champion on day one, especially with a new rule set like this.

"For me personally, it's more like diversion tactics," he added. "But that's okay. I mean, I focus on what we're doing here with the team, because honestly, for us, there's still so much to learn. This new rule set is so complex that we just want to do our laps and just go from there, to be honest.

"I think the start that we have had is just very nice," he continued. "And everyone is very happy with that. Like the lap count that we did yesterday, for example. That's just great. That's exactly what we want to do. But it's not a given.

"At the same time, we have worked, of course, for many years now to try and be here and be ready. But if it's going to be enough to win, I don't know. You don't have a clue at the moment if that's the case. Also what you see here now in testing, you won't see in Melbourne. For many cars, many engines as well.

"And it's normal, of course, that other people are hiding and trying to probably make us look really good. We don't care. We just focus on ourselves. We just try to do the best we can. But yeah, I'm happy, of course, with how everything started. But there's still such a massive room for improvement at the same time as well. Because of how complicated everything is."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by ffracer, 8 hours ago

""They are able to deploy more energy down the straights than everybody else "... this made me cringe. This is what F1 has become...

In 1985, drivers dealt with bigger turbos, qualifying engines blasting 1,500 bhp insanity... and they ran the risk of running out of fuel.The fences and the ground shook, the cars were all beautiful and terrifying. The V10 era was brilliant with more earpiercing sound, beautiful shapes and better safety. Today, drivers deal with a different insanity: busy steering wheels, front and rear moving wings, complex floors and 50/50 energy saving and deployment boasting engine management that I can't even begin to explain it. Other than incredible engine reliability and lighter shorter cars, the 2014 - 2025 engine era was frustrating and expensive. Why another expensive rabbit hole? "

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2. Posted by Spindoctor, 13/02/2026 12:30

""...other people are hiding and trying to probably make us look really good. We don't care. We just focus on ourselves. We just try to do the best we can. But yeah,..."

Obviously he doesn't care, that's why he's whingeing about it.

I was (foolishly) hoping that the RBR vs Mercedes BS would stop when Horner got the boot...."

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3. Posted by Motorsport-fan, 13/02/2026 10:30

"Early days yet, but there is a whiff that the 50/50 ICE / battery combination is a big mistake."

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"It's diversion tactics," says Verstappen of Wolff's claim

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