Hadjar Sets Pace as Haas Logs Most Laps on Day 1 of Barcelona Shakedown

The opening day of private testing at Barcelona-Catalunya saw Red Bull, Mercedes, and Haas emerge as the early runners, with a clear focus on data collection rather than raw performance. While Red Bull rookie Isack Hadjar set the fastest unofficial time, the day was defined by reliability programs, with Haas leading the way in mileage and new entrants Audi and Cadillac encountering early setbacks.

Why it matters:

This shakedown provides the first real-world data for the new regulations and team lineups. With new power units and chassis designs hitting the track for the first time, establishing reliability and baseline data is critical before the season opener. Early struggles for new teams like Audi and Cadillac highlight the steep learning curve, while strong mileage from established teams like Haas and Mercedes suggests solid preparation.

The details:

• Red Bull Pace: Isack Hadjar set the benchmark with a 1m18.159s, making the RB22 look consistent. George Russell ended the day second for Mercedes, just half a second off the pace.
• Haas Mileage: Esteban Ocon completed 154 laps, the highest of the session. He praised the team's effort to get the Ferrari-powered car running smoothly, noting the massive push from Fiorano testing to Barcelona.
• Mercedes Progress: Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell focused on calibration. Antonelli noted a significant improvement in the car's behavior during the afternoon stint after a morning of tuning the power unit.
• Audi & Cadillac Struggles: Audi's day was cut short by a technical issue, limiting Gabriel Bortoleto to just 27 laps. Team principal Jonathan Wheatley confirmed they stopped the car as a precaution. Cadillac managed only 44 laps split between Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.
• Alpine's Return: Franco Colapinto enjoyed a full day of running, completing 60 laps despite causing a red flag. He valued the extensive pre-season mileage, contrasting it with his limited previous preparations.

What's next:

The test continues with more teams joining the fray. Ferrari and McLaren are set to debut their cars on Tuesday, adding to the competitive picture. Teams have five days available at the circuit, and as the week progresses, the focus is expected to shift from basic system checks to more representative performance running.