Verstappen reloads downshifting: first gear as RedBull’s secret weapon

Energy recovery the key to 2026 The first tests on the track in Bahrain are confirming that energy management will be the crucial theme of 2026. However, it is not just a question of using it as best as possible, but also of recovering as much of it as possible on every possible occasion. On the first day we saw many experiments in this sense and several different techniques including lift and coast, automatic charging mode, and particular driving techniques. The Race newspaper yesterday evening highlighted that from the track one could perceive a particularly aggressive climb by Verstappen in the slow points of the track, hypothesizing that there was an attempt to recover energy in these phases. We then compared the 3 best laps of Verstappen, Norris and Leclerc in terms of gearbox and engine rpm and what we notice is actually surprising. First and third used strategically to raise the revs. Let’s start from the analysis of Verstappen’s data and immediately notice that in the sections highlighted by the blue circles the Dutch champion shifts a gear higher than the competition. In particular, Verstappen manages to insert first gear at turn 1, at turn 8 and turn 9, the three slowest points of the circuit, as well as third at turn 11. Leclerc does not go beyond second and fourth gear at the points mentioned above while Norris even uses third at turn 8. If we look at the number of laps it is evident that Verstappen’s in these slow points are decidedly higher than the competition, to give an order of magnitude we detected around 1000-1500 rotations per extra minute at the minimum point. It is clear that this technique is used to maximize the battery charging times, and therefore explains at least in part the large surpluses of power that we saw RedBull being able to use throughout the first day of testing. The new drive unit in Milton Keynes doesn’t seem to have to chase charging at other points of the ride and seems designed specifically to be able to use techniques of this type. The situation is different for competition. Norris, with the Mercedes Power Unit, for example, increases the revs significantly in the acceleration phases in which he discharges the energy the most, almost discharging and recharging at the same time, a behavior that we will analyze separately in the next few hours to fully understand its origin. Leclerc and his cornering technique which can come in handy twice Leclerc for his part does not engage eighth gear before braking at turn 4 and turn 13, and downshifts to fourth at turn 7 (Norris and Verstappen shift to fifth there) in turn letting the engine rpm rise significantly, precisely to maximize battery recharging. We then saw this morning that the Monegasque has returned to using the accelerator aggressively even when cornering, with gas and brake pressure at the same time. If in the past this served to help keep a car very ready when restarting, as well as to manage the rotation of the rear when slowing down, it can now prove very useful for raising the engine rpm even when cornering, so as to further maximize the energy recovered in the battery. Everything in one lap It makes a certain impression that these measurements are all made within a single lap and moreover in launched mode, but this gives an idea of ​​how much work there will be to do this season in this respect, as well as how many peculiarities we will have the opportunity to notice in a field that is still in the full experimental phase for both teams and drivers.