Formula 1 kicks off new era in Barcelona
Formula 1’s brand new era officially kicked off in Barcelona on Monday, with seven of the eleven teams taking to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the opening day of the 2026 closed shakedown week, reports BritPanorama.
Red Bull’s rookie Isack Hadjar topped the timesheets, posting an impressive 1:18.159 in the RB22, notably the first car to run Red Bull’s own power unit. Hadjar had been quickest in the morning session, and although George Russell briefly took the top spot during the afternoon, he managed to go even faster to claim the day’s best time.
Mercedes, Red Bull, Racing Bulls, Haas, Audi, Alpine, and the new Cadillac outfit all participated, though media were not permitted trackside for the closed-running event. Russell ended up half a second behind Hadjar in second place, while Franco Colapinto finished third in the Alpine, which now utilizes Mercedes power. The Alpine A526 caused one of three red flags during the morning session due to a sensor problem but returned to the track without significant delay.
Kimi Antonelli handled Mercedes’ morning duties and achieved fourth fastest overall. “It’s a massive learning,” Antonelli remarked regarding the new-generation machinery. “We’ve been trying to tune the power unit and the car, and obviously this afternoon the car has improved a lot.” He added that the driveability of the new engine, which had previously raised questions, appears satisfactory thus far.
Notably, McLaren and Ferrari confirmed they would sit out Monday’s running, with Williams absent due to delays with their 2026 challenger. Aston Martin announced they would only participate on Thursday and Friday, the final two days of the five-day test. The focus for the teams remains on reliability rather than outright pace, given the significant changes to the cars and engines.
Monday also marked a historic moment for Cadillac, the grid’s newest entrant, as they ran alongside the established teams for the very first time. Valtteri Bottas was behind the wheel during the morning session, marking his return to Formula 1 after a year away from the sport. His teammate Sergio Perez took over after lunch, continuing his preparations for a comeback.
It’s evident the excitement surrounding these early tests reflects the anticipation for this season. As the grid readies for a completely new chapter, the groundwork laid during these sessions could prove crucial when the competitive season begins, shedding light on the dynamics that will unfold on the track.
