Hadjar Tops Barcelona Test as Aston Martin Delays Debut; Mercedes Impresses

Isack Hadjar unofficially led the timesheets on the opening day of the 2026 F1 shakedown test in Barcelona, while Aston Martin confirmed its new car will miss the early running. With live timing disabled, reports suggest Red Bull and Mercedes have made strong starts to their new campaigns.

Why it matters:

The first on-track action provides the initial glimpse into the competitive order under the fresh regulations. With Aston Martin on the back foot and Mercedes sounding confident, the pecking order is taking shape ahead of the new season.

The details:

• Red Bull's Pace: Hadjar put the RB22 at the top of unofficial timing sheets. The car features an aggressive design, with Max Verstappen taking over driving duties later in the week.
• Aston Martin's Struggle: The team confirmed the AMR26 will not run until the latter stages of the test. This delay puts them behind in data collection compared to their rivals.
• Mercedes' Confidence: Rookie Kimi Antonelli was first on track and praised the new power unit, suggesting the Silver Arrows may have resolved previous reliability concerns.
• Haas' Resilience: Esteban Ocon praised Haas's "unbelievable effort" to ready the VF-26, noting the team "climbed mountains" to participate on the opening day.

What's next:

Testing continues in Barcelona for the remainder of the week. Focus remains on Aston Martin's delayed debut and Red Bull's pace as Verstappen prepares to take the wheel.