F1 teams breathe sigh of relief after smooth 2026 shakedown test

Despite initial concerns over F1's complex 2026 technical overhaul, a private pre-season shakedown in Barcelona has gotten the new era off to a remarkably smooth start. Teams like Mercedes and Ferrari logged hundreds of reliable laps, while new power unit manufacturers Red Bull and Audi also completed crucial early mileage, signaling a more stable beginning compared to the troubled 2014 engine changes.

Why it matters:

The 2026 regulations represent the biggest technical shift in a decade, featuring heavily revised power units with a greater emphasis on electrical energy. A chaotic or unreliable start could have derailed development and the competitive order before the season even began. The successful shakedown alleviates major reliability fears and allows teams to focus on performance refinement during the official Bahrain tests, setting a positive tone for the season opener in Melbourne.

The details:

The five-day private test allowed teams to choose three days of running, with most using it to rack up crucial mileage and understand their new cars.

• Mercedes emerged as the benchmark for reliability, completing a staggering 500 laps with its W17. The team progressed to tentative race simulations and qualifying runs, providing a massive data haul.
• Ferrari had a quietly productive week, with its engines (across its own and customer teams) logging nearly 1,000 laps. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton reported a more straightforward start compared to 2024.
• Red Bull's new in-house power unit from Red Bull Ford Powertrains impressed, with the main team completing 303 laps despite a crash for Isack Hadjar. Sister team Racing Bulls added 319 laps, marking a strong debut for the new engine supplier.
• Aston Martin arrived late after a logistical scramble but managed to run Adrian Newey's first design for the team. Fernando Alonso completed 61 laps on the final day, giving the team a first look at its radically different car.
• Williams was the notable absentee, choosing to skip the test to avoid compromising its spare parts pool for the early races, a decision team principal James Vowles called "incredibly painful" but necessary.
• Other teams like Alpine (349 laps with new Mercedes power), Haas (391 laps), and the new Cadillac team (164 laps) all reported productive running and valuable data collection, overcoming various minor issues.

What's next:

The real work begins at the official pre-season test in Bahrain, a six-day session held in conditions far more representative of the early season races. While Barcelona was about system checks and reliability, Bahrain will be where teams begin serious performance running and set-up exploration. For teams like Williams and Aston Martin that had limited running, catching up will be the priority. For the front-runners, the focus shifts from whether the cars run to how fast they can go, setting the stage for the first true competitive glimpses of the 2026 pecking order.