Aside from a number of brief filming runs, day considered one of Barcelona’s five-day shakedown was the primary actual alternative for System 1 drivers to place the brand-new 2026 era of vehicles to the check.
Seven of the 11 groups made it out on day one, with Williams pressured to skip the week fully and Aston Martin scrambling to make it out for at the very least two of the three days allowed per staff.
No dependable lap occasions have been obtainable from the behind-closed-doors check – and so they would not have been in any respect related even when that they had been – however Purple Bull’s Isack Hadjar was unofficially quickest from Mercedes’ George Russell, whereas Esteban Ocon was the best driver logging greater than two grands prix distances. The wholesome quantity of operating finished on day one suggests groups needn’t have been as apprehensive about permitting public scrutiny as they have been.
Two components which are of worth at this early stage are those that made a troubled begin – notably by not being on the bottom in any respect just like the aforementioned groups – and by listening to the primary impressions of those that did, with the novel shift of aerodynamic rules and an even bigger reliance on electrical energy set to overtake the best way the brand new period of vehicles must be pushed, and raced.
Learn into it what you’ll, however by far essentially the most glowing evaluation was reserved for the Mercedes W17 pushed by Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
“It nonetheless will take a little bit of time to strive all of the modes – overtake, override, all that sort of stuff – it is completely different,” Antonelli stated after taking over the total day for Mercedes. “However the automobile is sweet, it’s totally good to drive and clearly, on the ability unit facet, it’s kind of completely different in comparison with what we had final 12 months – it requires a bit extra administration but it surely’s all doable.
Antonelli additionally praised the driveability of the brand new Mercedes energy unit, which “was a giant query mark however appears to be good to date.”
Esteban Ocon, Haas
Picture by: System 1
Group-mate Russell, who took over the W17 for the afternoon session, additionally felt his new equipment was enjoyable to drive. “They’re fairly completely different for us as drivers however, when you get your head round it, driving them is sort of intuitive.
“It is satisfying being behind-the-wheel and I feel there’s quite a bit for followers to sit up for with these new rules.”
Esteban Ocon, whose Haas staff labored via a lot of early gremlins, nonetheless felt the driving force workload within the cockpit was “very difficult” with the squad’s Ferrari energy unit.
“It’s extremely completely different, very difficult,” he stated. “I used to be fortunate to have the ability to do lots of simulator days earlier than we began the 12 months, so we’re fairly nicely set on that. “Every little thing is obvious however sure, it’s totally difficult for all of us. However I hope that this would be the identical for everybody.”
Gabriel Bortoleto, who made his debut within the first-ever Audi F1 automobile – powered by the staff’s first F1 engine, felt his 2026 automobile was “very completely different however not one other world”. The Brazilian, a rookie in F1 final 12 months, has had a lot much less expertise with the earlier period of vehicles and has been used to altering vehicles each single season since his speedy ascent up the single-seater ladder.
“They’re very completely different. They really feel a bit completely different,” Bortoleto stated after his Audi staff curtailed his day early on account of technical bother on the R26. “I do not know easy methods to specific this as a result of I did not actually drive any comparable automobile prior to now. I’d say the System 2 automobile, it is a lot slower than the previous rules of F1. And I really feel these ones are going to be slower as nicely.
“Nevertheless it’s very cool to have the ability unit being 50% electrical now. You may exit of the nook, and you’ve got a lot velocity being deployed after which you’ll be able to see how robust it’s. And these items are completely different and it is advisable to get used to it and adapt your means of driving the automobile as nicely.
“Nevertheless it’s nonetheless a racing automobile and it isn’t one other world. It is only a new regulation change that may be very completely different.”
Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, who was considered one of three drivers to quickly cease on observe out of precaution because the staff restricted him to 60 laps, largely echoed Bortoleto’s feedback. “They’re very completely different, however on the finish of the day it nonetheless is a race automobile, and it is advisable to drive it shortly inside the grip that’s obtainable and that is very comparable.
“On the finish of the day, the approach is altering a bit bit, the power administration, the tyres are a lot thinner, smaller and, after all, we have to adapt our driving as nicely.”
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Picture by: System 1
Racing Bulls man Liam Lawson admitted “I undoubtedly have not obtained my head round it totally but” as he adapts to racing with Purple Bull’s first-ever in-house energy unit, which was in-built collaboration with Ford. “It is one thing that we’ll continue to learn over the following few days and weeks after we go to Bahrain as nicely. Nevertheless it’s very, very completely different,” the New Zealander stated.
“It appears like there’s much more we will do as drivers probably to make a distinction, which is sweet. However proper now, it’s totally early days. So it’s totally exhausting to know the place we’re. However for now, simply attempting to learn to optimise the automobile. I am having fun with it to date.
“The primary factor is reliability in the intervening time. We have finished variety of laps right this moment, just a few little issues. And truthfully, the one points we actually had right this moment have been security precautions, not likely any precise points. To date, truthfully, on the ability unit facet, it has been very, excellent. However once more, it is exhausting to know in comparison with everyone else the place we’re at.”
Barcelona’s F1 shakedown continues on Tuesday, which has the very best likelihood of rain. Situations allowing, world champions McLaren and Ferrari are set to affix the pre-season with their new equipment in Montmelo.
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