Mercedes-powered cars topped the mileage charts on the first day of Barcelona testing, while Audi faced early technical setbacks.
Ferrari arrived at Barcelona test Tuesday, joining Red Bull after Max Verstappen’s Turn 5 out‑lap caused a five‑minute red flag. Rain forecast sees most teams sit out, feeding 2026 development.
Drivers report the 2026 F1 cars are complex and demanding due to new hybrid systems, but remain intuitive and fun to drive after the first day of testing in Barcelona.
The 2026 F1 season begins with a private test in Barcelona as teams focus on mileage and data collection for their new cars.
The first 2026 F1 test in Barcelona saw teams complete 629 laps, a stark contrast to the 2014 hybrid era debut. Reliability fears have been eased, with Mercedes leading the charge despite skipping day two due to weather.
Mercedes has withdrawn from the second day of Barcelona testing due to heavy rain forecasts, following a productive opening day where they completed 151 laps.
Ralf Schumacher believes a Max Verstappen move to Mercedes is unlikely, arguing their working styles wouldn't mesh despite Red Bull's 2026 uncertainties.
F1 legends Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard will reunite to drive exclusive McLarens at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival, showcasing the rare Solus GT and Senna GTR.
Aston Martin will miss the first three days of the Barcelona shakedown, opting to run the AMR26 only on Thursday and Friday. The late start raises concerns as the team debuts its first car under Adrian Newey and Honda.
Williams missed Barcelona testing due to FW48 delays, opting for virtual prep instead. Albon remains optimistic as the team focuses on maximizing performance for the 2026 season opener.
Isack Hadjar led the timesheets on the opening day of F1 2026 testing in Barcelona, while Aston Martin confirmed a delayed start and Audi faced early technical issues.
Daniel Ricciardo confirmed Max Verstappen asked for his iconic number three during the 2025 US Grand Prix, calling it a "cool story" to pass the baton to his former Red Bull teammate for the 2026 season.
