Seven Formula 1 teams began the 2026 shakedown at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Monday, marking the first collective running of the new-generation cars under revised chassis and power unit regulations. Mercedes and Red Bull led in lap counts and unofficial times, while newcomers Audi and Cadillac faced technical hurdles. Drivers described the cars as different but driveable, emphasizing energy management and reliability.
The five-day Barcelona shakedown, held behind closed doors to focus on reliability amid major regulatory changes, kicked off on a chilly January 26, 2026, without official timings or public access. Seven teams participated: Mercedes, Red Bull, Racing Bulls, Haas, Alpine, Audi, and Cadillac. McLaren and Ferrari planned to join Tuesday, Aston Martin Thursday, and Williams skipped the event due to design delays.
Mercedes was first on track with Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the morning, completing 56 laps, followed by George Russell's 93 in the afternoon for a team total of 149. Red Bull's Isack Hadjar logged 107 laps, unofficially fastest at 1m18.159s. Haas topped mileage with Esteban Ocon's 154 laps, while Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson managed 88. Alpine's Franco Colapinto did 60 laps despite a stoppage, Cadillac combined 44 (Valtteri Bottas 33, Sergio Perez 11), and Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto was limited to 27 after a technical issue.
The new cars feature lighter chassis, 50% electric power units, and sustainable fuel, demanding more driver input for energy deployment. Antonelli called the Mercedes W17 "very nice to drive," noting the power unit requires management but is "doable." Russell found it "intuitive" and "enjoyable," praising rivals' running: "The Red Bull power unit has completed a lot of laps... they've clearly done a good job." Ocon described Haas' Ferrari unit as "very complicated," hoping it's uniform. Bortoleto said the Audi feels "very different but not another world," highlighting the electric boost's strength. Colapinto echoed that it's still a "race car," needing adaptation to thinner tires and energy. Lawson noted it's "very different," with reliability key and more driver influence possible.
Three red flags interrupted the day from stoppages, but overall running exceeded 2014's troubled hybrid debut. Security enforced a perimeter exclusion, moving observers from public vantage points. Rain is forecast Tuesday, influencing run plans across the three allowable days per team.
