Fears over the reliability of Formula One’s new regulations and engines proved unfounded during the first pre-season test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which concluded on Friday. The session, held behind closed doors to minimise attention on potential early teething problems, saw overwhelmingly positive running across the grid.
Mercedes were the standout performers, completing 500 laps – a distance of 2,328.5km – well clear of any rival. Their trackside engineering director, Andrew Shovlin, said the test had “more or less ticked all our objectives”. The team’s reliability was described as almost bulletproof, an ominous sign for competitors.
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton set the fastest lap of the week with a time of 1min 16.348sec on the softest tyres, providing a morale boost for the team after a difficult 2025 season. His teammate Charles Leclerc expressed optimism about the new regulations, saying: “It’s an exciting time for Formula One.”
Red Bull, building their own power units for the first time, enjoyed strong and consistent running. McLaren, using Mercedes engines, completed 291 laps, with world champion Lando Norris noting that the team had “identified opportunities and areas to improve”. Meanwhile, new entrant Audi faced some difficulties after prioritising reliability over pace, and Honda-powered Aston Martin managed only a day’s worth of running.
Lap times were considered largely irrelevant at this stage, with teams focusing on mileage and system checks. Mercedes’ George Russell called it a “very positive test” but cautioned that the real challenge will come in the upcoming Bahrain tests, where teams will begin to push performance limits.
