Six days of pre‑season running in Bahrain offered the first meaningful glimpse into the reliability and preparation levels of Formula 1’s five engine manufacturers. F1Technical’s senior writer Balazs Szabo delivers his latest analysis.
While lap times often dominate headlines, total mileage is traditionally one of the most telling indicators of early‑season readiness—and this year’s numbers paint a strikingly uneven picture.
Mercedes-powered teams emerged as the clear leaders, completing an impressive 21,515 km across the test. That figure reflects not only strong reliability from the power unit itself but also the combined productivity of the four teams using Mercedes engines. Such a high total suggests a stable platform heading into the opening race, giving both the factory team and its customers a valuable data advantage.
Ferrari followed with 16,121 km, a solid showing that reinforces the manufacturer’s reputation for dependable pre‑season performance. With three teams running Ferrari power, the mileage total indicates a smooth and largely trouble‑free test, allowing engineers to gather extensive setup and performance data.
In third place, the RBPT (Red Bull Powertrains) units accumulated 10,506 km. While this is a noticeable step down from the top two, it still represents a healthy amount of running for the two teams using the engine. The figure suggests that while the package may not have been flawless, it provided enough track time to support a confident start to the season for a new engine manufacturer.
Audi, preparing for its full works entry, recorded 4,966 km. This lower total reflects the fact that only one team currently runs the Audi‑branded power unit. Even so, the mileage indicates a mixed test, with enough laps to gather essential data but not enough to match the more established manufacturers.
The sole Honda-powered team Aston Martin completed 2,111 km, the smallest total of the group. With only one team using Honda engines and with reliability challenges appearing to limit running, the figure highlights a more difficult pre‑season. The reduced mileage may leave Honda and its partner team with unanswered questions heading into the first race weekend.
Overall, the mileage distribution underscores the varying stages of development and reliability across the grid. Mercedes and Ferrari head into the season with extensive data and strong early momentum, while RBPT sits in a comfortable middle ground. Audi and Honda, meanwhile, face a steeper climb as they work to refine their packages under tighter mileage constraints.
