The first day of Barcelona’s five-day F1 shakedown marked the debut of the new 2026 generation car for drivers, with seven of the eleven teams participating. While Williams sat out completely and Aston Martin struggled, unofficially, Red Bull’s Izak Hajar clocked the fastest time, followed by Mercedes’ George Russell. Notably, Esteban Ocon from Haas recorded over one Grand Prix distance.
Early impressions were mixed but generally positive, with Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli praising the new W17 for its comfort and manageable power unit. George Russell found the driving experience fun and intuitive, hinting at an exciting season ahead for fans.
Drivers like Esteban Ocon faced challenges with the complex Ferrari power unit, while rookie Gabriel Bortleto described his Audi experience as distinctly different, yet still an F1 racing car. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto echoed the theme of adaptation in driving style due to the new regulations.
Liam Lawson of Red Bull reflected on the learning curve associated with their first in-house power unit, emphasizing the importance of reliability in the early stages. The shakedown is set to continue with potential rain expected, and teams like McLaren and Ferrari are anticipated to join the testing soon.
Source link
