Formula 1's three-day test in Barcelona this week was mainly about data gathering and experimenting with new power units and aero packages, but showed encouraging signs for the upcoming season. Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren set competitive times and were closely matched, and, as a group, the drivers seem to like the new cars—while admitting that they have much to learn about how to operate them. 2026 marks a big change for the Renault-owned team, as it has abandoned its own PU to become a Mercedes customer.
A Silverstone outing last week gave Pierre Gasly a first taste of the new combination, albeit in the wet, while Franco Colapinto had to wait for Spain for his first run. It was a productive week for the A526 in terms of laps, although its ultimate potential remains unclear for now. “A really busy schedule for us,” said team boss Steve Nielsen.
” The former Sauber team made its first proper appearance under its new guise, after an initial earlier private outing in Barcelona. The team has more work to do than others, given that the R26 is using the first Audi power unit and gearbox , and inevitably, there were stoppages that restricted mileage, but by the final day on Friday, lap times had picked up. “As expected for a shakedown, we ran into a couple of issues,” said Nico Hulkenberg.
” This was a huge week for Cadillac as the team appeared alongside its rivals for the first time . After a private shakedown run at Silverstone for Sergio Perez, his teammate Valtteri Bottas had his first go in the black car. Like several others, the team ran on alternate days to give maximum time to take stock and crunch the numbers.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the team was last in the overall lap time pecking order for the week, but ultimate speed is not the focus for now. “We've steadily worked through all the usual niggles,” said team principal Graeme Lowdon. “You have to remember it's only the fourth day of this team running their F1 car.
” Ferrari put in some solid laps, although rain on Tuesday limited dry running. In Friday’s final session, Lewis Hamilton set the best time of the week, beating the mark set by George Russell the previous day. The overall verdict was a positive one, with no major dramas in the camp.
“We went through our program,” said Charles Lelcerc. ” McLaren set competitive times and were closely matched, but admitted that they had much to learn about how to operate the new cars. As for Williams, the team skipped the test, having run out of time to get its FW48 to Barcelona .
This is a significant change for the Renault-owned team, as it has abandoned its own PU to become a Mercedes customer. The absence of Williams was notable, and the late appearance of Aston Martin added an extra layer of interest to the event. The AMR26 caused a stir thanks to some very different and complex aero parts—a clear legacy of the input of Adrian Newey.
Lance Stroll drove on Friday, with Fernando Alonso taking over for the second day. Alonso logged some priceless miles on Friday, and praised the car’s performance. “For us, it was really the very first day,” he said.
” The week showed that Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren are well-positioned for the upcoming season, but there is still much to learn about how to operate the new cars. As the teams continue to work through their programs, it will be interesting to see how they adapt to the changing regulations. With the 2026 season just around the corner, the test in Barcelona has provided valuable insights into the performance of each team’s car.
The results suggest that Ferrari, Mercedes, and McLaren are strong contenders, but there is still room for improvement. As the teams head into the final stretch of pre-season testing, they will need to fine-tune their cars and develop strategies to outmaneuver their rivals. With the stakes higher than ever, the next few weeks will be crucial in determining which team emerges victorious.
The test has also highlighted the importance of teamwork and collaboration within each team. As the drivers and engineers work tirelessly to perfect their cars, they must also rely on each other for support and guidance. This is a critical aspect of F1, where even the smallest mistake can have significant consequences.
With the 2026 season just around the corner, it will be fascinating to see how these teams come together to achieve success. The test has provided valuable insights into the performance of each team’s car, but there is still much to learn about how to operate the new cars. As the teams continue to work through their programs, they will need to fine-tune their cars and develop strategies to outmaneuver their rivals.
With the stakes higher than ever, the next few weeks will be crucial in determining which team emerges victorious.
The 2026 season is shaping up to be an exciting one, with several teams showing promising signs. However, it's clear that there's still much work to be done before the start of the season. The teams need to fine-tune their cars and develop strategies to outmaneuver their rivals.
