Antonelli Praises Mercedes Power Unit During Barcelona Shakedown

Kimi Antonelli has issued a warning to Mercedes' rivals by praising the performance of the Silver Arrows' new power unit during the opening shakedown test in Barcelona. The 19-year-old rookie completed 55 laps in cold conditions, noting that the drivability of the new engine feels strong despite it being early days in the development process.

Why it matters:

Entering the new regulatory era, Mercedes is widely viewed as the early favorite, reminiscent of their dominance when turbo-hybrid engines were introduced in 2014. Positive feedback on the power unit's drivability—a critical factor under the new rules—suggests Brackley may have secured a significant early advantage. With Antonelli and George Russell combining for 148 trouble-free laps, the team appears to have hit the ground running while others scramble to find their footing.

The details:

• On-track performance: Antonelli was the first driver to exit the pit lane, completing 55 laps with a best time of 1m 20.700s. Russell took over in the afternoon, adding 93 laps to the tally.
• Driver feedback: Antonelli highlighted the "drivability" of the power unit as a major positive, addressing a key question mark surrounding the new regulations.
• Learning curve: The 19-year-old emphasized the focus on "tuning the power unit and the car," treating the session as a massive learning experience to understand the new package.
• Early verdict: While Antonelli cautioned that it is "early days," his assertion that the package "feels good" will undoubtedly put rival teams on notice as development ramps up.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to further testing and data analysis to see if this initial promise translates into genuine performance over a race distance. As teams gather more data on the new regulations, Mercedes will aim to maintain this momentum and convert their strong start into a championship-winning foundation.