Mercedes Emerge as 2026 F1 Favourites After Secretive Barcelona Shakedown Test
A private five-day 'shakedown' event in Barcelona has offered an intriguing first glimpse into the biggest regulatory change in Formula 1 history. Conducted largely in secret with a broadcast blackout and strict limits on media, the test nevertheless leaked crucial information about the pecking order ahead of the 2026 campaign.
The peculiar start to the season featured onlookers with binoculars on hillsides and boisterous security guards, a stark contrast to F1's usual fly-on-the-wall era. Despite forty hours of total track time, teams operated under severe restrictions on photographs, videos, interviews, and lap time releases.
With two more pre-season tests scheduled for Bahrain next month before the season opener in Australia on March 8th, this was not about optimal performance. Some teams struggled to participate at all, with Williams notably absent due to car delays. Mercedes and Red Bull emerged quickly from the blocks, while Ferrari, McLaren, and Aston Martin joined later in the week to maximise development time.
Mileage varied significantly across the grid, but for new entrants like Audi and Cadillac, every lap provided crucial data for the challenging campaign ahead. The question remains: who were the genuine winners and losers from this clandestine first test?
Winners: Mercedes Solidify Their Favourite Status
The Silver Arrows have reinforced their position as frontrunners heading into the new season, building on their renowned power unit development prowess from 2014. Mercedes were first out of the pit lane at 9am on Monday morning and proceeded to rack up impressive achievements throughout the week.
By the end of their third day of running, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli had completed an astonishing 500 laps between them. Antonelli secured the fastest time on day two, while Russell topped the timing sheets on day four, with the Briton's lap standing as the quickest of the entire week at the time of writing.
While lap times should always be treated cautiously during pre-season testing, Mercedes demonstrated remarkable reliability and outright speed despite the damp conditions at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The team experienced no crashes and maintained their planned track time without deviation.
Paddock whispers suggest Mercedes have moved beyond mere reliability concerns and are now fine-tuning their car setup in preparation for the season ahead. If one had to select a favourite at this early stage, Toto Wolff's outfit would undoubtedly occupy pole position.
Red Bull-Ford Show Promising Signs Despite Setback
Red Bull's fascinating new engine partnership with American giant Ford didn't experience completely smooth sailing during the Barcelona test. Isack Hadjar's crash late on Tuesday, which caused significant damage to the rear suspension, represented a clear setback for the team.
Nevertheless, Hadjar managed to be the fastest driver on day one, while Max Verstappen enjoyed a full day of running on Friday after spare parts were flown in from Milton Keynes at the last minute. The Racing Bulls sister team completed 321 laps, providing critical experience for British rookie Arvid Lindblad.
George Russell expressed particular admiration for Red Bull's performance, noting that, to public knowledge, they suffered no power unit setbacks. Much speculation has surrounded whether a new engine manufacturer can genuinely challenge at the top during their debut season, and thus far, no glaring alarm bells have emerged from the Red Bull camp.
Ferrari Display Quiet Confidence After Disastrous 2025
Following the disastrous 2025 campaign that both Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton endured, fingers remain crossed throughout the paddock. However, the Scuderia delivered a solid week's work in Barcelona, testing a new car with a fresh philosophy that includes pushrod front and rear suspension.
Ferrari began their programme on Tuesday in wet conditions, opting not to amend their order of play—a decision that spoke volumes about the team's quiet confidence. While neither Charles Leclerc nor Hamilton lit up the timing sheets, they clocked more than 400 laps between them, with their power unit completing nearly 900 laps including usage by customer teams Cadillac and Haas.
Ferrari have historically been plagued by mechanical issues, but during this test, no such problems were visible to the public eye, offering hope for a more competitive season ahead.
Losers: McLaren Appear on the Back Foot
The world champions raised eyebrows with their slow emergence during the Barcelona test. Scheduled for day three, Zak Brown's outfit—sporting a temporary black livery—did not enter the field of play until late Wednesday morning.
Team principal Andrea Stella insisted this delay was intended to maximise development time, suggesting their car is unlikely to change radically before Melbourne. However, Oscar Piastri spent most of Thursday in the garage due to a fuel systems issue, limiting valuable track time.
Lando Norris's rapid lap late on Friday, just a tenth off Russell's benchmark, should provide some cause for optimism. Nevertheless, compared to their usual rivals, McLaren appear to be on the back foot at this early stage, though their excellent engineering team led by ex-Red Bull guru Rob Marshall could still turn the tables in the coming weeks.
Aston Martin's Frantic Start Under Newey's Leadership
The unveiling of Adrian Newey's first car as Aston Martin designer-in-chief proved rather frantic. Lance Stroll only took to the track in the AMR26 during the final hour on Thursday, with the car—like McLaren—decked in an all-black livery.
Speculation suggests most delays stemmed from fine-tuning the new Honda power unit, resulting in Aston Martin running a limited programme. Fernando Alonso received his first taste of the car with minimal running on Friday.
An intriguing caveat emerges from Aston Martin's design: their car appears uniquely different from the rest of the field. The wider-than-normal nose, thin sidepods with heavy undercuts, and cut-away engine cover all deviate from competitor designs, leaving observers wondering what Newey has concealed up his sleeve this time.
Audi Encounter Expected Teething Problems
Despite being one of the first teams to emerge from the pit lane on Monday amid considerable excitement, Audi encountered several problems during the Barcelona test. Gabriel Bortoleto completed just 27 laps on Monday before encountering an unknown issue, while Nico Hulkenberg was forced to stop on track Wednesday due to a hydraulic failure.
Alongside Cadillac—who also experienced difficulties—and late arrivals Aston Martin, Audi completed the fewest laps of the week at approximately 200. Nobody expects these new teams to compete at the summit during their initial years on the grid, and Audi will face many more obstacles as the season-opening grand prix approaches.
The next crucial test will occur in Bahrain from February 11th to 13th, offering teams their final opportunity to prepare before the competitive action begins in earnest.
