The complexity of F1’s 2026 guidelines overhaul is such that groups requested an additional shakedown on high of two three-day checks in Bahrain to organize for the beginning of the season in Melbourne in March.
The brand new energy models, with a a lot greater reliance on a extra highly effective electrical MGU-Ok system, precipitated such nerves that they requested the Barcelona shakedown behind closed doorways, with Bahrain additionally understood to have paid for the privilege to host official winter testing.
Regardless, any apprehension about groups being caught within the storage or F1 energy models going up in smoke turned out to be overblown. The general conclusion from the five-day shakedown occasion, of which groups have been allowed to select three for testing, was that the brand new laws period has gotten off to a remarkably easy begin, in contrast to the final main engine overhaul in 2014.
Mercedes and Ferrari significantly stood out with their dependable and productive begin, whereas Purple Bull’s producer period obtained off to a cautiously spectacular begin and Adrian Newey’s first Aston Martin design caught the attention of many observers upon its delayed arrival.
Lewis Hamilton led the timesheets forward of George Russell, however as there was no actual efficiency work being accomplished on the chilly Montmelo structure and groups will seemingly convey a extra developed specification of their automobiles to Bahrain and the season opener, any reference to lap occasions is completely meaningless and must be handled with mistrust.
Photograph by: McLaren
What they did
McLaren delayed its MCL40’s debut to Wednesday, forcing the world champion squad right into a busy programme with three consecutive days of working. Its second day was hindered by a gasoline system situation, which restricted Oscar Piastri to 48 laps, however each he and world champion Lando Norris loved 80+ laps on Friday.
That’s nonetheless a way off Mercedes’ file tally, however there aren’t any causes to recommend McLaren has encountered any showstoppers. The Woking workforce did concede on Friday night time that it nonetheless had plenty of work forward to get on high of the brand new energy models, particularly the driving and set-up necessities of a extra highly effective MGU-Ok motor. That seemingly applies to each workforce to some extent, however it was nonetheless an intriguingly frank admission.
What they stated
“Whereas some small points price us mileage throughout day one and day two of working, the ultimate day delivered precisely what we wanted with each drivers finishing intensive laps with none reliability issues,” stated technical director for engineering Neil Houldey.
“The brand new energy unit laws have added complexity, particularly round deployment and harvesting. We did what we might within the simulator, however there’s no substitute for monitor time, the place shut collaboration with Mercedes Excessive Efficiency Powertrains has helped us refine options.
“Telemetry from working the automotive will sharpen simulator realism now that the drivers have skilled the true factor. We accomplished significant aero work, together with circulate visualization, and gathered intensive references to benchmark our subsequent improvement steps.”
Photograph by: Mercedes AMG
Mercedes – 500 laps
What they did
Throughout Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli amassed a whopping 500 laps, which is a outstanding achievement for a brand new automotive constructed from a clean sheet of paper underneath these all-new laws. Aside from a number of typical gremlins, the Mercedes W17 ran like clockwork and will swiftly transfer onto a primary tentative race simulation on Wednesday and some qualifying-style runs on Thursday.
Dependable does not equal quick, so extra persistence is required; each Russell and Antonelli actually appeared to have a spring of their step. So far as a shakedown and calibration week goes, it actually could not have gone any higher for the Silver Arrows.
What they stated
“It has been actually spectacular from a reliability perspective. There’s all new programs on the automotive. It is labored brilliantly,” stated trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin. “Whether or not it was the shakedown in Silverstone or this primary take a look at, we’ve got an concept of what goals we wish to obtain. And we have just about ticked all of these bins for these two. In Bahrain, we will transfer extra to set-up exploration, attempting to work out the way you get the automotive in the suitable window.”
Photograph by: Formulation 1
Purple Bull – 303 laps
What they did
Purple Bull impressed each pal and foe with a really productive debut for its in-house engines developed by Purple Bull Ford Powertrains, getting off to a flying begin with 107 laps on day one. Isack Hadjar crashed on a wet second day, spinning into the wall out of the ultimate nook, which put the workforce on the again foot, requiring it to fly out spare elements from Milton Keynes so Verstappen might take the wheel on Friday.
However the four-time world champion introduced Purple Bull’s Spanish week to an in depth with a wholesome 118 laps, that means Purple Bull leaves Barcelona with a strong haul of information. Its Racing Bulls sister workforce, which we’ll come to later, additionally chipped in with an identical quantity of mileage to provide RBPT plenty of information to pore over.
What they stated
“We knew it will be a really particular second to be right here for the primary time with RB22 with our personal PU [power unit], so on Monday there was a particular environment within the storage,” stated workforce principal Laurent Mekies. “We obtained greater than 100 laps in on Monday with Isack after which Tuesday was a bit harder for us. Isack went off on the finish of the day in very difficult situations and with plenty of issues nonetheless to get proper on the automotive facet. It was unlucky, however these items occur.
“We now have loads to remove from this week and Max’s expertise and element with engineering will assist us form the preparations for Bahrain and past. By way of what we have been anticipating from the facility unit in these first three days, I can solely stress how proud we’re of everybody again at base who delivered us this PU. In fact, it is vitally early days and nothing is ideal however we’ve got began to study already.”
Photograph by: Ferrari
Ferrari – 444 laps
What they did
Ferrari could not have grabbed as many headlines with its productiveness as Mercedes, partly as a result of it began and completed a day later than the Silver Arrows, however the Scuderia quietly obtained off to a really constructive begin. In contrast to most of its rivals, Ferrari opted to run on a wet Tuesday however when Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton ran in dry situations on Thursday and Friday each gave the impression to be buoyed by a extra easy begin to the season in comparison with 12 months in the past.
Unofficially, Hamilton set the quickest time of the take a look at on Friday afternoon, a 1m16.348s, however it can’t be harassed sufficient that Barcelona occasions are devoid of that means. However Ferrari engines nearly ran for a complete of 1,000 laps, which is not a world away from Mercedes’ tally of 1,137.
What they stated
“It’s been a protracted week however total a productive one,” stated workforce boss Fred Vasseur. “We skilled totally different situations, from moist to dry, and managed to finish a big quantity of working every day, which is essential at this stage to gather information and examine reliability. We didn’t encounter any main points, which is a crucial consequence.
“It’s nonetheless very early days and there’s a lot to analyse and enhance, however now we’ll return to Maranello to work by means of what we’ve realized and put together for the Bahrain take a look at, which can be extra consultant.
Photograph by: Williams
What they did
Williams’ round-up of its Barcelona shakedown will be very quick. It did not flip up. In pushing the boat out speeding all its elements by means of manufacturing, the Williams workforce pushed itself too exhausting and located itself adrift. Williams workforce boss James Vowles stated the workforce might have made the shakedown week if its life trusted it, however that may have carried a spare elements danger for the early a part of the season, a danger Vowles was not comfy taken given the traumatising begin to the 2024 season, when it additionally fell behind and ended up with one automotive on the grid in Melbourne.
As an alternative, Williams ramped up its digital monitor testing programme and simulator work for Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, however not making it to Barcelona will nonetheless put it behind groups who’ve already labored out plenty of gremlins on their 2026 equipment by doing a whole bunch of laps. One saving grace is that Williams is utilizing each a Mercedes energy unit and gearbox this 12 months, which Mercedes and its different buyer groups have clearly been in a position to shake all the way down to good impact.
It is an early setback for Williams, however the lack of Barcelona working does not say something concerning the precise high quality and efficiency of its FW48 automotive, and it nonetheless has six full days of testing in Bahrain to kind itself out.
What they stated
“It is extremely painful,” stated Vowles. “We now have to acknowledge that we have been attempting to push extra throughput by means of the system than we have been in a position to obtain. We might have made Barcelona testing, however in doing so, I must flip the other way up the influence on spares parts and updates throughout Bahrain, Melbourne and past. I stand by our choice that the suitable factor to do is to verify we’re turning up at Bahrain appropriately ready. We have nonetheless obtained six days of testing Bahrain in consultant situations.”
Photograph by: Purple Bull Content material Pool
Racing Bulls – 319 laps
What they did
Alongside Mercedes, Racing Bulls was the opposite outfit that managed to get all of its working in by Thursday night, simply sitting out the rain-affected Tuesday. It was a moderately environment friendly programme for the Anglo-Italian squad, and like its greater brother Purple Bull, it ran a powerful variety of laps given it was the primary outing for the all-new energy unit developed by Purple Bull Ford Powertrains.
Arvid Lindblad, F1’s solely rookie in 2026, amassed a complete of 167 laps because the British teenager acclimatises to life in F1, with an identical variety of laps for Liam Lawson regardless of each drivers struggling stoppages that precipitated one crimson flag every.
What they stated
“It has been actually, actually profitable,” stated chief technical officer Tim Goss. “You come to the primary take a look at like this and your goals are to get on the market and simply construct mileage and that is precisely what we have achieved. , it is such a brand new automotive, every part’s totally different. We have by no means had this type of change in Formulation 1 earlier than and to get on the market and simply run efficiently, each ourselves and the sister workforce as effectively, has been actually spectacular. It has been a very spectacular job by Purple Bull Ford Powertrains. To come back as an entire newcomer to Formulation 1 and, in your very first day, to place almost 200 laps underneath your belt, it is simple to take this stage of reliability as a right, however it will possibly’t be underestimated what they’ve achieved.”
Photograph by: Aston Martin Racing
Aston Martin – 65 laps
What they did
Not in contrast to Williams, Aston Martin needed to pull out all of the stops to even make it to Barcelona however it did get there ultimately, chartering an historic propeller cargo aircraft to fly its automotive over on Wednesday, which quickly grew to become one of the crucial tracked flights on the favored aviation buff web site Flightradar24, such is the hype round Adrian Newey’s first Aston Martin design for two-time world champion Fernando Alonso.
Aston labored all through Thursday to get the AMR26 able to go and simply managed to make it out of the pitlane, drawing oohs and ahhs for a design that appeared radically totally different in a number of areas in comparison with its rivals. Lance Stroll needed to park the automotive after simply 5 laps earlier than the tip of the day, whereas Alonso then had a extra productive day on Friday by setting 61 laps.
However, there may be solely a lot Aston has been in a position to study in Barcelona, and because the solely Honda workforce it’s barely behind the curve exploring its brand-new engine and its energy modes. The jury continues to be out on whether or not “totally different” means quick, however the first fruit of Newey’s labour has actually given rival designers loads to speak about.
What they stated
“It was very particular,” stated Alonso. “Clearly, it is the primary automotive made by Adrian and along with Honda and Aramco and all these new guidelines. The final two weeks have been very intense on the manufacturing facility attempting to have the automotive prepared and we simply made it to Barcelona within the final two days so it was an incredible effort from everybody. For us [Friday] was actually the very first day, so I feel we had a constructive one doing 60-plus laps and the automotive is responding effectively.”
Photograph by: Haas F1 Staff
Haas – 391 laps
What they did
Haas’s shiny new VF-26 loved a productive begin to life on Monday however then disappeared into the storage for big spells of Wednesday because of one minor and yet one more severe reliability situation on the automotive facet of issues. The problem was such that Haas required new elements to be flown in and fitted to the automotive in a single day so it might run on Friday, which it completed with a strong day of working, with Oliver Bearman finishing over 100 laps on Friday morning alone.
Esteban Ocon continued a productive Friday within the afternoon, a powerful response from a workforce that has skilled a few such events in latest seasons, and 391 laps accomplished represents a job effectively accomplished.
What they stated
“We had our reliability points on Wednesday, however everybody on the workforce did an incredible job to get issues circled and get us again out on Friday,” stated workforce boss Ayao Komatsu. “We acquired substitute elements fairly late yesterday however then the preparation of the automotive in a single day was good – we have been able to exit at 09:00 at this time. We caught to our program and actually realized loads. As we speak it’s not simply been concerning the amount of laps, it’s been concerning the high quality of laps. We’ve obtained an enormous quantity of information to have a look at and put enhancements in place for Bahrain.”
Photograph by: Audi
Audi – 243 laps
What they did
In contrast to Purple Bull Ford Powertrains, F1’s different new energy unit producer didn’t have the smoothest runout in Barcelona out of the field. Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg have been each restricted to fewer than 100 laps over the primary two take a look at days and precipitated a number of crimson flags with the R26. Given the confidential nature of the take a look at it’s not totally recognized what the most important ache factors for Audi have been, however the workforce alluded to at the least a number of gremlins being positioned on the facility unit facet.
Audi is one other workforce with out clients that may solely depend on itself to realize mileage, so any technical points with the automotive additionally hinder its means to study extra about its first-ever F1 powerplant. That is why it was so vital for Bortoleto and Hulkenberg to take pleasure in a way more productive closing day, combining for 148 laps to convey Audi’s tally to a decent 243 laps, that means the German producer will head to Bahrain with a way more constructive feeling.
What they stated
“We got here right here understanding it wouldn’t be a flawless week – there have been nonetheless many firsts for us, with a brand-new automotive and energy unit bundle, and intensive collaboration between Neuburg and Hinwil,” stated technical director James Key.
“As anticipated, we confronted some early challenges, which is totally regular at this stage. They have been all effectively understood and fixable. We made clear and constant progress because the week went on, and by the second half of the take a look at, we have been in a position to run extra productively and start extracting significant insights.
“This take a look at was by no means about efficiency – it was about validating the basics and making certain our core programs are functioning reliably. In that regard, we’ve made good progress and now have a strong basis to construct on.”
Photograph by: TWJB Images
What they did
Alpine was one other outfit with loads on its plate after ditching its Renault engines and welcoming a brand new energy unit and gearbox provider within the type of Mercedes. However recent from its launch on an MSC cruiseliner on Friday, Alpine arrived on the Catalan capital with a spring in its step and quiet confidence its option to sacrifice final season for 2026 was going to repay.
That each one stays to be seen, however Alpine seems to be in an infinitely higher place than it was 12 months in the past, and that is not all all the way down to the facility unit. Taking on from Wednesday runner Franco Colapinto, marathon man Pierre Gasly accomplished an enormous 164 laps on Friday, almost half of the workforce’s total mileage, underlining Alpine’s easy begin.
What they stated
“Nothing has come as a shock however there’s nothing like doing it for actual,” stated managing director Steve Nielsen. “On the primary day on Monday, we did not fairly do as many laps or get the mileage we wished, which was to be anticipated with a totally new automotive. However we steadily ramped up throughout the week and coated 764km on the ultimate day, which supplies us loads to look by means of forward of Bahrain. We’re just about on track by way of the place we wished to be with the variety of laps coated.”
Photograph by: Cadillac Communications
Cadillac – 164 laps
What they did
As F1’s first startup workforce in a decade, Cadillac was all the time going to have a mountain to climb to even make it to Barcelona within the first place. And it did, making it out of the pits on Monday morning earlier than Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez added extra mileage to the automotive on Thursday and Friday.
It actually wasn’t a trouble-free expertise, as one would anticipate, however within the grand scheme of issues Cadillac can look again on a profitable week, benefitting from begin for its Ferrari energy vegetation too. Nobody within the 500-strong start-up is underneath any illusions of the kind of challenges that also await, and the automotive’s preliminary efficiency stays an enormous query mark. However Cadillac has all of the hallmarks of a bona fide, fully-fledged F1 operation, and that is already encouraging.
What they stated
“I am actually pleased with the best way issues have gone,” stated workforce principal Graeme Lowdon. “We have steadily labored by means of all the standard niggles that you simply discover with a brand-new automotive, but additionally you must bear in mind it is solely the fourth day of this workforce working their Formulation 1 automotive. However daily we’re getting extra streamlined, the procedures are working effectively, individuals are working extraordinarily effectively collectively. There may be nonetheless plenty of work to do, however that is the identical for all groups. We’ll be heading to Bahrain with a very constructive feeling.”
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