Williams F1 team principal James Vowles has stated Red Bull was playing games with its power unit during pre-season testing in Bahrain.
The engines have been put through a major change this year as F1 commences a new era under fresh technical regulations.
Red Bull has committed to producing its own power unit in collaboration with Ford and consistently played down expectations over its competitiveness.
But rival manufacturers were quick to point to its efficiency with energy management and deployment, with some suggesting it had the strongest power unit on the grid.
Vowles, however, noticed a change from the Milton Keynes-based squad once noise about its abilities started.
“There are games being played,” Vowles told F1TV.
“Red Bull looked really good until we spoke about their power unit. Then they’ve turned it down quite a bit since then.”
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Pecking order 'hard to tell' - Vowles
Elsewhere on the grid, eyes were drawn to Ferrari who unveiled a unique rear wing design during week two of testing.
Mercedes too has been labelled as expected front-runners for the opening round - but with so much change coming into effect, Vowles insisted the reality remains that it is too challenging to tell how the pecking order is stacking up.
“Ferrari, well done to them, really,” he said.
“They’re coming up with great innovations, and they are moving forward, and I think they are competitive as they are.
“Mercedes, just because they came out the box really strong, and they’ve been strong all days. You can’t discount them.
“So what I’m saying to you is, even within the paddock right now, depending on what games people are playing on power unit and fuel, it’s hard to tell.
“Then, on top of that, I would add that you’re going to see more than ever before, swings, circuit to circuit, based on what characteristics the power unit and the car teams have come up with.
“So even if today, Ferrari could win a race here, that doesn’t mean they will in Melbourne.”
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365’s Ian Parkes, Sam Coop and Nick Golding as they look back on last week’s first test in Bahrain and this week’s second test at the same venue. The trio debate Max Verstappen’s criticism of the regulations and whether Formula 1 is facing an identity crisis.
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