Red Bull is increasingly being seen as a serious threat to Mercedes in Formula 1, according to former driver and current Sky Sports analyst Anthony Davidson. The Austrian team's RB22 has shown remarkable improvement, with Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar performing strongly in several races, including in Sepang, where they finished just behind the top drivers. During the third practice session of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, Verstappen recorded the second-fastest time, just 0.278 seconds behind Kimi Antonelli, while Hadjar finished third. George Russell of Mercedes managed only fourth place, highlighting the growing competitiveness of Red Bull. The strong performance in Sepang is not a one-off. Verstappen had already dominated the first practice session on Friday, and both Red Bull cars were at the front during the second session. This trend is particularly notable given that the Bahrain circuit is very different from the one in Baku, where Red Bull had previously shown strong form. Davidson believes that Red Bull is now capable of regularly challenging Mercedes, and he would have expected them to be even closer to Antonelli during the third practice session. The progress of Red Bull has been particularly evident in Azerbaijan, where Verstappen finished just 0.196 seconds behind Russell after a fierce battle. The Dutch driver has also been consistent, finishing on the podium in the last six Grand Prix he completed, with only two withdrawals due to technical issues interrupting the streak. This consistency indicates a significant rise in Red Bull's performance. The situation contrasts sharply with the start of the season, when Red Bull was struggling and remained the only team in the top four without a Grand Prix win in 2026. Ferrari and McLaren had previously been the main rivals to Mercedes, but the dynamics are changing. Red Bull team director Laurent Mekies has emphasized the team's goal of regaining the ability to win regularly without relying on errors or issues from Mercedes. Verstappen expressed surprise at the progress made by Red Bull, especially after securing his first pole position of the season in Sepang. His time of 1:35.130 pushed Lewis Hamilton back by about three tenths of a second, marking the first time a car not using a Mercedes engine had taken pole position this season. This achievement symbolizes Red Bull's strong return to form. The progress of the RB22 has been visible in recent races, with Verstappen finishing just 0.196 seconds behind Russell in Baku. However, Sepang marks a new step forward for Red Bull, as they have now managed to outperform Mercedes on a lap. Verstappen noted that the team's progress has been significant, and the weekend in Sepang has been very positive for Red Bull. Red Bull has shown strong competitiveness from the first laps in Malaysia. Verstappen dominated the first practice session on Friday and retained the best time of the first day, before confirming his potential during the qualifying session. He expressed his happiness at securing pole position, emphasizing the incredible progress his team has made. Verstappen now aims to convert this first pole of the season into a victory, ending his winless streak since last season's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The high temperatures at Sepang and the significant tire degradation could make the race challenging, but Verstappen remains optimistic. He currently refuses to name a team as the favorite for long runs, acknowledging the uncertainty of the race outcome. After months of being behind Mercedes, Red Bull has crossed an important threshold at Sepang. Verstappen feels confident enough to try to convert this first pole of 2026 into a victory that would confirm the return of his team to the forefront of Formula 1.