Lance Stroll's Barcelona test ends after just five laps

Lance Stroll's pre-season test in Barcelona is effectively over after the Aston Martin driver completed only five laps on Thursday. The team now plans for Fernando Alonso to handle all of Friday's running, leaving Stroll with minimal track time in the new AMR26 ahead of the 2026 season.

Why it matters:

Pre-season testing is a critical window for drivers to adapt to their new cars and provide feedback for final adjustments. Stroll's severely limited running puts him at a significant disadvantage for the season opener, as he has almost no data or feel for the car's handling and performance. It also places immense pressure and workload on teammate Fernando Alonso to complete the team's testing program single-handedly.

The details:

• Stroll's running was confined to a brief afternoon session on Thursday, marking the AMR26's track debut.
• He completed just five laps at a moderate pace, offering little in terms of performance data or setup work.
• Following the run, Stroll expressed satisfaction at being back in the car, thanking the team for their hard work in preparing the car after what he described as "a long day for all the mechanics."
• Fernando Alonso did not drive on Thursday. His first laps in the 2026 car came on Friday morning.
• The Aston Martin arrived at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya later than other teams, though the specific reason for the delay has not been officially disclosed.

What's next:

All focus shifts to Fernando Alonso, who must now cover the entirety of the final day of testing. His feedback will be paramount for the team's understanding of the AMR26 before the season begins. For Stroll, the lack of seat time means he will head to the first race with unprecedented uncertainty, relying heavily on simulator work and Alonso's findings to get up to speed.