Barcelona Test Day 3: Mercedes and Antonelli Lead as Mercedes-Powered Teams Shine
Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time on Day 3 of F1 testing in Barcelona, leading a Mercedes one-two as all Mercedes-powered cars finished in the top five. The team completed over 180 trouble-free laps, signaling strong reliability and promising pace ahead of the final test day.
Mercedes and rookie Kimi Antonelli topped the timesheets on the third day of pre-season testing in Barcelona, capping a day of strong, reliable running for the Brackley-based team and its customer squads. The Silver Arrows completed over 180 laps between George Russell and Antonelli, showcasing both performance and durability as they fine-tune their 2025 package ahead of the final day of available testing.
Why it matters:
A trouble-free day with competitive lap times is a significant morale boost for Mercedes, a team seeking to re-establish itself as a consistent front-runner. For 18-year-old Antonelli, setting the fastest time in only his second official F1 test session sends a powerful message about his readiness for a potential race seat. Furthermore, the strong showing from all Mercedes-powered teams—McLaren and Alpine filled out the top five—suggests the German manufacturer's power unit remains a formidable asset heading into the new season.
The details:
- Mercedes' Mileage Marathon: The team executed a near-flawless program, with George Russell laying a foundation in the morning (92 laps) before Kimi Antonelli took over to set the day's benchmark time of 1:17.362 in the afternoon (91 laps). Their combined effort pushed Mercedes past 300 total laps for the shakedown.
- Customer Team Strength: Reigning champions McLaren, with Lando Norris at the wheel, logged 76 laps and finished third, just under a second off the pace. Alpine also enjoyed a productive day, with Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly combining for over 100 laps to secure fourth and fifth.
- Mixed Fortunes Elsewhere: Ferrari-powered Haas, led by Ollie Bearman, managed only 42 laps due to an early stoppage. Audi rebounded from a difficult first day with Nico Hülkenberg completing 68 laps, while Arvid Lindblad tallied an impressive 120 laps for Racing Bulls despite causing a red flag.
- Absentees: Ferrari and Red Bull rested after running on Tuesday, while Aston Martin is scheduled to debut its 2025 car on Thursday. Williams has opted out of the Barcelona test entirely.
What's next:
With one remaining test day available to them, Mercedes is in an enviable position to focus on performance refinements rather than chasing reliability. All eyes will be on whether Antonelli can maintain his impressive form and if the early speed from Mercedes-powered teams translates into a genuine shift in the competitive order. The final day of running will offer the last clues before teams pack up for the season opener.