AI gaining Massive Speed on the straights

I’ve just started another my team career but this time as I chose Renault a started as a mid  team but as I suspected I’m same starting rank as I am as a newcomer when picking redbull down in 8th in team rankings just above McLaren 

And obviously can’t directly compare my team car has a few extra starting upgrades but I assume so have the ai teams.

So I find it bizarre Just done race pace on medium  in fp2  and finished top beating second place Perez by a tenth and he had softs fitted…. whereas as a newcomer it’s normally  12th -18th  

My brain is freaking out:  it doesn’t fair well when it can’t find a pattern:, gunna  be 🤪 night