Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer believes Red Bull hid the true pace of its new RB18 during F1's first week of pre-season testing in Barcelona.
Over the course of three days of testing in Spain, the Milton Keynes-based outfit logged 358 laps of the Circuit de Catalunya, the fourth biggest lap count, but the team shied away from indulging in any performance runs, save perhaps on the final day of running when Sergio Perez set the third fastest time overall.
Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko said the team still had a lot of work to do before the season kicks off in earnest in Bahrain later this month, the Austrian also claiming that its RB18 was currently still "overweight".
But Palmer says the team kept its card close to its chest in Barcelona.
"Mileage seemed the biggest priority early on, with Max Verstappen driving what looked like a very heavy but stable car through the first day before handing it over to Sergio Perez on day two," the Briton told F1.com.
"There were more glimmers of some underlying pace on the final day as Verstappen got back behind the wheel for the morning, running similar pace, or slightly quicker, than George Russell’s Mercedes, until Russell extracted more pace on the red-walled softer tyres.
"Sergio Perez had slightly more troubled running and missed some laps on day two with a gearbox issue, but also ended the Barcelona running in good spirits after a cleaner run when the track dried at the end of play on the final day.
"The team seem to be in a decent position overall, even if they acknowledge there is plenty more to do with the car.
"But as yet, I’d say they’ve maybe kept the most hidden of any teams – so they will be well worth watching in Bahrain."
Palmer also offered his assessment on Red Bull's seemingly biggest rivals, namely Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren.
"It was fairly metronomic as usual from Mercedes in racking up the mileage without serious mechanical issues, as well as getting on with the pre-season rituals of practice starts, pit stops and a semi-race sim from Lewis Hamilton on the final day," he said.
"George Russell looks immediately settled and accomplished alongside Lewis Hamilton.
"This was a decent start for the reigning constructors’ champions and of all the teams, the feeling is that Mercedes could introduce the most upgrades next time out in Bahrain, and showcase their true pace a little more.
"The innovative design of the Ferrari, featuring unusual sculpted sidepods, looked to be a bit of a risk from Ferrari – but the sounds out of Maranello were positive at the launch, and everything I saw in Barcelona backed that up," Palmer commented.
"Both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz looked quick and comfortable, and the early lap times agree, for what that’s worth. Is this a first sign that Ferrari can mix it at the sharp end again in 2022?"
Finally, Palmer reckons that McLaren, like Red Bull, played down its pace in Barcelona.
"Along with Ferrari, they were noticeable in looking like they had a good baseline with the car early on in the week," he said.
"On day one, Norris immediately looked like he had confidence in the car, and it looked particularly direct in the medium-speed corners compared to the other midfielders from last year, who were struggling more with understeer.
"McLaren are playing down their pace, saying they were on different run plans, and as always it’s difficult to tell much at this early stage.
"But the car certainly looks good – better than anything else in the midfield."
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