4 February 2026The RaceBreaking newsAnalysis
Mercedes’ 2026 F1 Start Looks Ominous, Early Tests Offer Promise
Mercedes left Barcelona with a smooth W17 debut, noting that car handling matches simulations and porpoising is absent. The team is cautiously optimistic but stresses the 2026 season’s performance picture remains unclear until race data arrives.
Mercedes emerged from its first 2026 test in Barcelona with a surprisingly smooth run, saying the new W17 feels as expected and sidestepping the porpoising woes that haunted the team during the ground‑effect era.
Why it matters:
- Early confidence could translate into championship contention, as engine reliability and aero‑simulation match are rare.
The details:
- George Russell joked the car isn’t “a turd”, quoting Toto Wolff, and both praised the car’s handling and aero‑data matching simulations.
- Drivers pushed the car to its limits from day one; no major reliability issues surfaced.
- Aerodynamic performance on track mirrored virtual models, a first since the 2021 title season.
- Engine validation ran smoothly; Hywel Thomas said Mercedes “walked” the test, not “ran” it, underscoring robustness.
- No porpoising, a stark contrast to the 2022‑23 ground‑effect woes.
What's next:
- Two more private tests in Bahrain will push the package toward race‑ready trim.
- Teams will now scramble to master the new 2026 power‑unit’s energy‑recovery and battery‑recharge strategies.
- Wolff remains “glass‑half‑empty”, warning that the performance picture is still unclear and only race data will confirm if the W17 can challenge Red Bull and Ferrari.