Mercedes made an early impression under F1’s 2026 regulations, with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli covering more ground than anyone else during the Barcelona shakedown.
The team completed 504 laps over three days at the Circuit de Barcelona, the highest total of any team. Ferrari were next best, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc combining for 438 laps.
Hamilton clocked the quickest lap of the event late on Friday after Ferrari bolted on a set of soft Pirellis. But in pre-season testing, reliability tends to matter more than headline times.
Mercedes weren’t just reliable; they were also quick, with Russell and Antonelli setting the second and fifth-fastest laps of the week. The five days in Spain gave teams their first real chance to iron out issues under the new rules, which come into effect this season.
Why a top figure at Mercedes is pushing back on 2026 F1 favourite talk
Expectations have been high for Mercedes heading into the new era of F1 regulations. With the sport shifting to a near 50/50 power split, removing the MGU-H, and moving to sustainable fuels, many see their engine as a clear advantage. Add in changes to aerodynamics, chassis, and tyres, and there’s plenty to consider.
However, despite strong performances in testing, including reliable running and solid lap times from George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, not everyone inside Mercedes is ready to embrace the favourite tag just yet. Speaking to Sky Sports News after the shakedown in Barcelona, Slater said:
“According to [Mercedes], they don’t like that status and they deny that they’re ahead at the moment. As far as they see it – I’ve spoken to a senior figure there – it is very close between last year’s big four,” he stated.
“So they count themselves in the same rough bracket as Ferrari, Red Bull – which is very creditable for them – and McLaren too.”
The McLaren team member doesn’t think it will be that way all season but did point out that based on what was seen during testing this week “they are a little bit ahead”.
McLaren see Mercedes’ 2026 F1 car as the best, and not just because of their engine
Mercedes have long been expected to set the pace under F1’s 2026 engine regulations, having dominated since the introduction of 1.6L V6 turbo-hybrid units in 2014. Still, McLaren, one of their customer teams, don’t think it’s solely down to the power unit.
A McLaren source told Craig Slater that while Mercedes will have an advantage through greater familiarity with their new engine, it goes beyond that. They believe Mercedes have simply built a very strong car this year.
Slater relayed: “They think they’ve come with a very good car. And that it’s not just down to these conditions,” Slater explained on Sky Sports News.
“There’s a view from one of the rival teams at least that Mercedes have come out of the box well and may be slightly ahead.”
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