Although most Formula 1 fans will be desperate to see who has the fastest car during the opening race of the season, there’s another intriguing battle happening right behind the top teams.
The Australian Grand Prix will provide a much better indication of who is the best of the rest after three fascinating days of pre-season testing in Bahrain.
Testing used to see teams struggle for reliability and occasionally even turn up with half-finished cars.
However, that’s no longer the case and even the teams who had minor issues – such as Red Bull and Aston Martin – averaged more than 100 laps every day.
McLaren appear to have the quickest car and their race simulation pace was extremely impressive.
The conditions in Bahrain were uncharacteristically cold though and this will be a factor ahead of teams arriving in Melbourne where the circuit and conditions will be very different.
Alpine and Williams impressed many onlookers during testing this year with both manufacturers having something to prove after a difficult 2024.
Williams ran out of budget to develop their car due to their frequent forays into the barriers, while Alpine had the slowest car on the grid at the beginning of last year.
Journalist Nate Saunders was speaking on the Unlapped Podcast about both teams and heard an interesting tidbit from people working within Alpine.
They’re not sure that Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon – who have 206 and 104 Grand Prix starts to their name – are as relatively fast as their lap times in Bahrain suggested.
The Spaniard set the quickest time of the entire event, but the Anglo-French team wondered if that was just for the sponsors.
Alpine insiders unconvinced by Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz’s pace during F1 testing
Talking about the teams in this season’s midfield, Saunders said: “Last year, Haas came into the season saying, we’re going to be 10th as well.
“So I think they led us down a country path, but just on that as well, I was going to say Haas had a really positive test.
“And what was quite telling at one point on the third day, I was talking to some people at Alpine and I think it was Albon on day three [who] was doing one of his quick laps at the end.
READ MORE: Williams driver Alex Albon’s life outside F1 with net worth, girlfriend to parents
“And they were very dismissive. They were like, oh no, that’s just for the sponsors, that’s just for the sponsors.
“Sometimes when you see teams being that dismissive about another [team] you do wonder, do you think that or are you actually a little bit nervous?
“So I think Alpine do see Williams and, and a lot of people have said as well, Haas look kind of quietly quite strong.”
Alpine have driver conundrum of their own to solve with Jack Doohan and Franco Colapinto
Williams team principal James Vowles admitted that Sainz’s fastest time was likely set with a lower fuel load than many of their rivals ran, but it was still a line in the sand to show that they mean business this year.
Pierre Gasly looked brilliant in Bahrain as well and will likely be battling Sainz and Albon for points during the first few races.
However, all the pressure is on Jack Doohan and his short-term contract at Alpine.
READ MORE: All you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage
The signing of Franco Colapinto has put further pressure on Doohan’s shoulders and he’ll be aware that if he doesn’t perform, he’ll be replaced.
While that scenario exists within every Formula 1 team, Alpine haven’t done the best job in protecting the 22-year-old, especially by bringing in a trio of talented reserve drivers over the winter.
If this proves to be any sort of distraction for Alpine, then Williams will feel with their much more established line-up that they can get the jump on their rivals.
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