Mercedes having the ability to full a full race simulation on day two of System 1’s Barcelona shakedown in January was a “chortle in everybody’s face”, thinks Williams chief James Vowles.
Mercedes received off to an ominously sturdy begin to the 2026 pre-season as Andrea Kimi Antonelli accomplished a full race simulation on day two on Barcelona’s shakedown on the finish of January.
The Mercedes W17 and its HPP energy unit, which Antonelli shared with team-mate George Russell, ran reliably all through, as did its buyer engines at the back of the McLaren and Alpine.
Consequently, Antonelli was capable of full a full race simulation as early as day two whereas different groups have been nonetheless effectively away from that stage, which notably caught the attention of rival squads.
“I have been impressed with them,” Williams’ group principal James Vowles mentioned. “I in all probability should not be as a result of I was part of it, however for Mercedes to hit the bottom after which do a race distance on day two, that is form of an enormous chortle in everybody else’s face of simply precisely how superior they’re when it comes to what they’re doing proper now.”
After the optimistic shakedown, Russell could not cover his delight with how the W17 had rolled out, however he additionally cautioned that the remainder of 2025’s prime 4 regarded in fine condition.
“We left Barcelona with a optimistic feeling as a result of the automobile reacted as we anticipated,” he mentioned. “The numbers we’re seeing from the aero on the automobile match what we see again on the simulator, how the automobile is dealing with is matching the way it feels on the simulator. So, that is one thing we have probably not skilled since 2021 as a group.
George Russell, Mercedes
Photograph by: Steven Tee / LAT Photographs through Getty Photographs
“However we won’t low cost our rivals as a result of there was a whole lot of speak across the Purple Bull energy unit not being as much as commonplace 12 months one. From what we have seen thus far, they’ve positively delivered. The Ferrari energy unit seems to be dependable. They did a number of laps not far behind us over the course of the take a look at. So the reality is that there could possibly be a superb struggle on our arms, however we’re glad with what we have skilled thus far.”
Vowles additionally doffed his cap to the work Purple Bull Ford Powertrains has executed to provide its first-ever energy unit that seems to be in fine condition, with its inner combustion engine trying notably spectacular in Barcelona.
“I have been stunned, in a optimistic method for the game, with Purple Bull’s energy unit when it comes to how aggressive it’s,” Vowles added. “But additionally, to construct an influence unit from scratch in your first 12 months, delivered on monitor, have each of your groups working massive kilometres, is mighty.”
Vowles’s personal group missed Barcelona’s shakedown because of manufacturing delays, and whereas the information gathered by its fellow Mercedes runners has considerably dulled the ache for Williams, it is going to nonetheless must play catch-up over the subsequent two three-day assessments within the Gulf.
Learn Additionally:
It additional tried to make inroads on its run plan by conducting two filming days in Silverstone and in Bahrain to shake down the FW48.
“Clearly, we missed the take a look at however in lieu of that we did a full week of digital take a look at monitor working the place we did fairly a couple of hundred kilometres there. It is not precisely the identical factor as working on monitor however do shake out the gremlins, adopted by two filming days, one in Silverstone and one right here yesterday. The automobile ran flawlessly and did all of the kilometres we needed to attain.
“There isn’t any doubt we’re behind simply because others have executed three days on monitor, however to not the extent that I do not really feel we won’t catch up throughout these six days. We’ve got to do not forget that in most seasons now we do three days of testing, we have doubled that this 12 months. The facility models are for essentially the most half performing very effectively, in order that’s why throughout these six days you are able to do some fairly excessive mileage numbers that get you again to the place you wish to be.”
Learn Additionally:
We wish your opinion!
What would you prefer to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Staff
