Mercedes' Antonelli sets new benchmark on final day of Barcelona F1 test

Kimi Antonelli lowered the benchmark for the week at Formula 1's pre-season test in Barcelona on Thursday, reinforcing Mercedes' status as the early favorite while Aston Martin's new car remained in the garage. Antonelli's best lap of 1m17.081s, set in the W17, was three-tenths quicker than his own previous best from Wednesday and faster than Mercedes' best race lap at last year's Spanish Grand Prix.

Why it matters:

The test results solidify Mercedes' position as the team to beat heading into the 2026 season, with both impressive single-lap pace and strong reliability. The laptimes also suggest the new generation of cars, under fresh regulations, are operating in a similar performance window to their predecessors, easing concerns about a dramatic performance reset.

The details:

• Mercedes' dominance: Antonelli completed 90 laps on his final day in the car, showcasing the W17's durability. His laptime not only topped the timesheets but also beat the team's best race lap from the 2025 Spanish GP.
• McLaren's debut: Oscar Piastri got his first run in the new MCL40, setting the second-fastest time of the morning (1m18.419s) over 48 laps, following teammate Lando Norris's debut on Wednesday.
• Ferrari's run: Lewis Hamilton was third fastest for Ferrari (1m18.654s) despite a small spin at Turn 10 on cold tires early in the session. He completed 87 laps.
• Aston Martin's delay: The team's new AMR26 missed its planned morning track debut, with its first run now expected later on Thursday, putting it behind schedule compared to rivals.
• Other runners: Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) and Sergio Perez (Cadillac) rounded out the times, focusing on their own programs with Perez's time significantly off the pace.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Aston Martin to finally get its 2026 challenger on track before the test concludes. The data gathered here in Barcelona will be crucial for final preparations ahead of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, where these early impressions will be put to the real test.