Hadjar Tops Unofficial Times as F1 2026 Testing Begins in Barcelona
Isack Hadjar set the fastest unofficial time on the opening day of F1 2026 testing in Barcelona, leading Red Bull's charge. George Russell finished second for Mercedes, while Esteban Ocon completed the most laps for Haas.
Isack Hadjar marked his Red Bull debut by setting the pace on the first day of pre-season testing in Barcelona. The rookie driver outpaced Mercedes' George Russell by over half a second as teams began their 2026 campaigns with the new RBPT power units.
Why it matters:
With the 2026 regulations introducing significant power unit changes, these early sessions are critical for understanding the pecking order. Red Bull's immediate pace suggests a strong start to their partnership with the new engine, while reliability data from the lap counts offers a glimpse into each team's readiness for the season ahead.
The Details:
- Top of the sheets: Hadjar’s 1m18.159s led the way, with Russell finishing 0.537s behind. Franco Colapinto was third for Alpine, albeit over two seconds off the pace.
- Mercedes' Progress: Both Mercedes drivers showed strong reliability. Russell finished P2, while rookie Kimi Antonelli completed 56 laps to end the day P4.
- Mileage King: Esteban Ocon showed Haas' potential durability by completing 154 laps, the highest of the day, despite finishing fifth on the timing sheets.
- New Entrants: Cadillac and Audi made their track debuts. Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez finished P7 and P9 respectively, while Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto was P8, all over six seconds off the lead.
What's next:
Testing continues as teams gather more data on the new regulations. The focus will shift from raw pace to long-run consistency and race simulations in the coming days.