Brundle: Red Bull for me came away as clear favourites

Ferrari was tipped by many as the best overall performer during Bahrain's pre-season testing, with their good-looking F1-75 running reliably and consistently throughout the three days of testing.

But on the final day, Red Bull had an upgrade package bolted to their RB18, and set the timing sheets alight, going fastest of all with Max Verstappen on the final afternoon, the reigning F1 World Champion even claiming he was holding back.

Respected F1 driver turned pundit Martin Brundle was trackside in Bahrain watching and commenting on the test proceeding, and believes Red Bull are the real deal.

"Red Bull for me came away as the clear favourites," he told Sky Sports F1.

"I have absolutely no doubts in my mind that the aero package on the Red Bull took a significant step forward today. Red Bull have moved the game on today in terms of raw pace, long run pace.

"They've been smiling all day. I think the pieces they put on the car suddenly made the whole car look better," the Briton added.

Despite Red Bull's impressive last day display in Bahrain, Brundle believes that Ferrari, are contenders, and good enough to take the fight to the energy drinks outfit.

"Red Bull have got a race on their hands with Ferrari," he claimed. "That's a front runner, that's a contender, no doubt about it."

The 62-year-old reflected on Mercedes, who seemed to be struggling, while no one knows if the struggles are real, or just the best sandbagging impression ever.

"The [Mercedes] car looks a handful but who would you put in front of them?" Brundle wondered.

"I'd go Mercedes [in third]. Don't write them off Mercedes. I'm sure when they turn up - even in Race One - they'll be quite a bit faster," he insisted.

Brundle went on to try and develop a pecking order saying: "I think judging by previous tests I think you'd have to put McLaren in there for fourth, but it's quite close behind them."

"I think Aston Martin had a reasonable test, good consistency, car looked quite driveable," he added, despite many other pundits expressing concern towards Aston Martin's early form.

"I'm thinking Alpine, Aston Martin and AlphaTauri all about the same to be honest - sort of fifth equal," the veteran of 158 Grands Prix concluded.