Red Bull Leads Day 1 of F1 2026 Testing in Barcelona as Several Teams Sit Out
Isack Hadjar topped the timesheets for Red Bull on the first day of F1 2026 testing in Barcelona, while Ferrari, McLaren, and Aston Martin were absent.
The opening day of F1 2026 pre-season testing concluded at Barcelona with Red Bull's Isack Hadjar leading the timesheets. The session, part of a closed-door 'Shakedown Week,' saw only seven teams on track as Ferrari, McLaren, Aston Martin, and Williams delayed their debut.
Why it matters:
This represents the first real-world data point for the new 2026 regulations. With significant technical changes in play, early reliability and performance data are critical. The absence of top teams like Ferrari and McLaren highlights the intense pressure to finalize cars before the season opener.
The details:
- Red Bull's Early Pace: Isack Hadjar set the unofficial fastest time of 1:18.159s in the RB22, trading top spots with Mercedes' George Russell.
- Morning Interruptions: The session faced three red flags. Audi rookie Gabriel Bortoleto stopped with a "technical issue," while Franco Colapinto (Alpine) and Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) also brought out the flags.
- Driver Lineups: Mercedes ran Kimi Antonelli in the morning before handing over to George Russell. Cadillac celebrated Sergio Perez's 36th birthday by putting him in the car for the afternoon session.
- Haas Focus: Esteban Ocon reportedly completed the highest lap count with 154 tours, focusing on reliability checks rather than pure pace.
Looking Ahead:
Testing continues in Barcelona through Friday, with absent teams expected to join later in the week. The paddock will then shift to Bahrain next month for the final pre-season test before the 2026 season begins.