Champion Norris Returns as Mercedes Sets Pace in Barcelona Test
Lando Norris and McLaren hit the track for the first time in 2026 pre-season testing in Barcelona, while Mercedes set the unofficial pace. The day was punctuated by red flags for several teams, including Audi, signaling early technical challenges.
Defending champion Lando Norris completed McLaren's first laps of 2026 pre-season testing in Barcelona, while Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli and George Russell unofficially set the day's fastest times. The session was marked by several red flag stoppages, including one for Audi's new RS26, highlighting early reliability concerns for some teams.
Why it matters:
The third day of testing provides the first real-world glimpse of teams' winter development progress ahead of the new season. McLaren's initial run with its MCL40, Mercedes' apparent speed, and the mechanical issues for Audi and others offer crucial, early indicators of potential competitive order and technical hurdles to overcome.
The details:
- McLaren's Debut: Reigning world champion Lando Norris was finally behind the wheel of the McLaren MCL40, putting its first miles on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Teammate Oscar Piastri was present, observing the track action.
- Mercedes' Pace: The Mercedes W17 appeared to be the quickest car on Wednesday. Rookie Kimi Antonelli, taking over from George Russell in the afternoon, reportedly set an unofficial best time of 1:17.382.
- Widespread Track Action: Six teams were in action. Alpine ran both Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly. Nico Hülkenberg drove for the Audi team.
- Red Flags Disrupt Running: The session saw multiple interruptions. Hülkenberg's Audi RS26 stopped on track, causing a morning red flag. Later, Oliver Bearman's Haas and Arvid Lindblad's Racing Bulls also brought out red flags, with Lindblad's car stopping on circuit.
- Power Unit Confidence: Despite the on-track stoppage, Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad reported no issues with the new Red Bull power unit after the session, offering a vote of confidence in the new engine's fundamentals.
What's next:
Teams will analyze the data from today's running, with a focus on reliability fixes for those who encountered problems. The test continues, offering further opportunities for teams to refine car setups and gather performance data. All eyes will remain on the long-run pace and consistency of the front-runners, like Mercedes and McLaren, as well as the progress of new powertrain integrations at Audi and Racing Bulls, as the 2026 grid begins to take shape.