Key takeaways from F1's Barcelona preseason shakedown test

The first on-track running of the 2026 Formula 1 season in Barcelona revealed a reshuffling of the competitive order, with Mercedes and Ferrari appearing strong while new entrants Audi and Cadillac face a steep learning curve. The test provided crucial early data on new power units and car concepts ahead of the season opener in Bahrain.

Why it matters:

Preseason testing offers the first genuine glimpse of a team's winter progress, setting early narratives and expectations. Strong reliability and pace here can build vital momentum, while struggles can force teams onto the back foot before the racing even begins, impacting development trajectories for the entire season.

The details:

• Mercedes and Ferrari Resurgent: Mercedes, tipped as winter favorites, enjoyed a dominant test with its W17, completing 502 trouble-free laps. The team appears to have finally mastered the ground-effect regulations. Ferrari also showed strong pace and reliability, with Lewis Hamilton setting the fastest overall time and expressing renewed confidence in a car that suits his driving style.
• Red Bull's Reliability Relief: The biggest question mark over Red Bull was its first in-house power unit, the DM01. The test answered it positively, with both Red Bull and Racing Bulls achieving a combined 622 laps without major PU issues, a critical foundation for the season.
• Aston Martin's Radical Concept: The Adrian Newey-designed AMR26 features an extreme interpretation of the regulations that caught the attention of rivals. While the chassis looks promising, its Honda power unit completed the fewest laps of any manufacturer, leaving its durability as the team's primary unknown.
• Newcomers at the Rear: As expected, Audi and Cadillac trailed the field. Audi's in-house power unit and Cadillac's new trackside operations both encountered teething problems, resulting in the lowest lap counts (240 and 164, respectively) and pace several seconds off the front.

What's next:

Teams will now analyze the terabytes of data collected in Barcelona, with the true picture emerging at the official pre-season test in Bahrain. The focus will shift to performance runs, race simulations, and understanding the new pecking order. For Mercedes and Ferrari, the goal is to confirm their promising pace. For Red Bull and Aston Martin, it's about unlocking more performance from their new power units. For Audi and Cadillac, the immediate task is simply to run reliably and start closing the gap.