Inside F1’s Secretive 2026 Shakedown: Day One Revelations
Formula 1’s shakedown week kicked off at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with several teams troubleshooting their new cars. Mercedes’ car, the W17, was first on the track, driven by Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Following closely were Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto. Technical issues briefly hampered both Bortoleto and Colapinto, but specifics remained undisclosed due to the event’s closed-door nature.
Key Events of Day One
The first day saw various drivers in action. Liam Lawson represented Racing Bulls, while Isack Hadjar drove for Red Bull. Valtteri Bottas took the wheel for Cadillac, and Esteban Ocon drove for Haas. By midday, a red flag, triggered by Lawson’s car halting on the track, temporarily halted the proceedings.
Lap Counts and Performance
Despite the challenges, Ocon managed to complete 67 laps, leading in lap count. Meanwhile, enterprising YouTubers accessed the timing system and reportedly shared unofficial lap times, although these figures were considered unrepresentative. They indicated that the teams were still testing rather than pushing for pure speed.
- Fastest lap of the day: Isack Hadjar – 1m18.159s
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 0.537s slower than Hadjar
- Sergio Perez (Cadillac) – 11 laps
The lap time discrepancies emphasized the ongoing development of the cars, with Hadjar’s performance not reflective of purely competitive conditions. The timing leak did not disclose afternoon results, adding to the day’s mystery.
Team Participation and Future Plans
Several notable teams were absent from the track, including McLaren, Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Williams. Both McLaren and Ferrari announced they would not run until Tuesday, while Williams opted out of the Barcelona event entirely. Aston Martin confirmed it would miss at least one day, delaying its participation until Thursday.
Focus on Reliability Over Speed
The focus of the shakedown is more on reliability than outright performance. Despite the slower lap totals, Haas emerged positively, completing 154 laps— the most of any team. Mercedes followed closely with a combined total of 149 laps from Antonelli and Russell. In contrast, Audi faced challenges, with Bortoleto only managing 27 laps and Perez completing a mere 11.
Audi has confirmed that it identified its technical issues and expects to resolve them as the week progresses. The focus now shifts to how each team refines their run plans based on the forecasted weather in the coming days. Day one of the shakedown sets the stage for crucial developments as teams gear up for the competitive season ahead.
