Mercedes set the pace during the private Barcelona shakedown for the 2026 Formula 1 season, completing the most laps with its new W17 car. The team reported ticking all objectives over three days of testing, highlighting reliability and progress. This early test provides initial insights into the major regulatory changes ahead.
The Barcelona shakedown in late January 2026 marked the first private running for Formula 1's new cars under the sport's biggest regulatory overhaul in over a decade. Teams tested smaller, lighter vehicles powered by advanced sustainable fuels and enhanced electrical systems, with active aerodynamics replacing DRS via Overtake Mode.
Mercedes stood out, accumulating 2,328 km over three days—more than any rival—and improving lap times daily, shifting from hard C1 tires to softer C3 compounds. Trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin noted the team "more or less ticked all our objectives," praising the car's balance and the new power unit's reliability. Driver George Russell described it as "a very positive test," emphasizing learning over outright speed, though he acknowledged impressive power unit showings from competitors like Red Bull's new Ford engine.
The shakedown, spanning five days, allowed teams to gather data without media access, ahead of February's Bahrain tests. New entrants Cadillac, with drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, and Audi prepare to join the grid, while Madrid debuts as the Spanish Grand Prix host in September. Red Bull's Laurent Mekies anticipates "huge performance swings" as teams develop under the rules.
Stefano Domenicali, F1's CEO, highlighted the excitement of these changes, including 100% sustainable fuels derived from carbon capture and waste, aiming for net zero by 2030. The 24-race calendar starts in Australia in early March, promising a reset for the 11 teams.
