Mercedes Dominates Mileage as McLaren Joins Barcelona Shakedown

Mercedes emerged as the clear mileage leader on a cold Day 3 of Formula 1's Barcelona shakedown, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli combining for over 180 laps, while McLaren finally joined the track with Lando Norris. Six teams took advantage of improving weather to log crucial early-season mileage, with rookies Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) and Ollie Bearman (Haas) also getting their first proper runs, though the day was punctuated by red flags and technical issues for some.

Why it matters:

The Barcelona shakedown provides the first real-world data point for teams under the new 2026 regulations, and mileage is the most critical currency at this stage. Mercedes' ability to complete a massive program without major hiccups is a strong early indicator of reliability and operational smoothness. For McLaren and others, simply getting the complex new cars assembled and running represents a significant initial victory, setting the foundation for the development work to come.

The details:

• Mercedes' Commanding Day: The team stood out in both pace and reliability. Kimi Antonelli, after a disrupted Day 1, set the fastest unofficial time (1:17.362s) and completed a race simulation, while George Russell focused on the test program in frigid morning conditions he described as some of the coldest he's ever driven in.
• McLaren's Debut: Reigning champion Lando Norris took the newly assembled MCL40, now carrying the #1, for its first proper run, completing over 70 laps. Norris emphasized the day was purely about systems checks and understanding the "pretty different" new car, noting it felt slower in corners but quicker on straights compared to its predecessor.
• Rookie Mileage: Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad logged an impressive 120 laps, calling it an important milestone. Haas's Ollie Bearman and Audi's Nico Hulkenberg made their Barcelona debuts, though both faced interruptions; Bearman's running was curtailed by issues, and Hulkenberg caused a red flag due to a basic hydraulic problem.
• Team Adjustments: Alpine's Pierre Gasly highlighted the scale of adaptation required with the team's new Mercedes power unit, stating many driving references needed a reset. Audi recovered from its early issue for a productive afternoon with Hulkenberg.

What's next:

With Ferrari and Red Bull having completed their running earlier in the week, attention turns to Aston Martin, which is set to begin its program on Thursday. Several teams are down to their final day of testing, and decisions on how to use it will be heavily influenced by the expected weather conditions. The data gathered over these final two days will be invaluable as teams head back to their factories to prepare for the official pre-season test.