George Russell set a sensational pace for Mercedes on the final day of F1 pre-season testing in Barcelona, topping the timesheets by over a second. The day was marred for champions McLaren, however, as a fuel system problem halted their running after the morning session.
Liam Lawson says the 2026 F1 car is "very different to drive," with less downforce and a new approach to energy management. He highlighted the team's strong reliability during the Barcelona shakedown but stressed it's too early for comparisons with rivals.
Oscar Piastri's first run in McLaren's 2026 car was halted by a fuel system issue, but the driver and team found value in the limited laps, gathering essential initial data on the new-generation Formula 1 machine's behavior and characteristics.
Williams F1 has secured Wilkinson Sword as its official men's grooming partner, with the British brand's logo to feature on the 2026 car and driver gear. The deal aligns two performance-focused British brands as Williams continues its rebuilding process ahead of a major regulation change.
The 2026 F1 pre-season test in Barcelona saw the track debut of Aston Martin's Adrian Newey-designed AMR26, though its run was cut short. Lewis Hamilton spun his Ferrari, while George Russell set the test's fastest time for Mercedes, signaling a strong start for the team.
Liam Lawson says F1's 2025 pecking order is a complete unknown after Racing Bulls' reliable pre-season test, noting all teams are making big gains with their new cars. True competitive standings won't be clear until the Bahrain season opener.
Aston Martin's new Adrian Newey-designed AMR26 had its first track run cut short after just five laps due to a precautionary electrical issue, forcing Lance Stroll to stop on circuit. The team aims to recover with Fernando Alonso driving on the final day of the Barcelona shakedown.
McLaren lost a substantial part of the second day of F1 pre-season testing in Barcelona due to a fuel system issue on Oscar Piastri's car. While the team reports the MCL40's handling is as expected, the technical setback and observations of strong rival pace present an early hurdle.
Red Bull has received spare parts to repair Max Verstappen's car after a crash, raising hopes he can run in Friday's Barcelona test. The team missed two days of crucial pre-season running, making Verstappen's potential final day vital for data collection ahead of the new season.
McLaren reports a successful first shakedown for its new MCL40 in Barcelona, with no major issues found. The team is using the test to ensure reliability across all conditions before shifting focus to performance tuning at the upcoming official test in Bahrain.
Lewis Hamilton expressed optimism after Ferrari's first 2026 pre-season test day, praising the team's "amazing" reliability and high mileage as a clear improvement over their problematic start last year. The smooth running provides crucial early data for the new-era car ahead of the official Bahrain tests.
Mercedes capped off pre-season testing in Barcelona with a dominant display of speed and reliability, while Aston Martin's new AMR26 car made a brief and troubled track debut. The session highlighted the early pecking order and unresolved issues for several teams ahead of the new season.
