F1 testing: Lewis Hamilton units Barcelona shakedown week tempo as Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren run lengthy

Lewis Hamilton set the quickest time of the Barcelona shakedown as Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull all topped 100 laps on a ultimate productive day of long-running for F1 groups in Spain.

As the week of behind-closed-doors working on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya got here to a detailed, eight groups have been on monitor for Friday’s finale.

Ferrari, Red Bull and world champions McLaren have been joined by Aston Martin – whose maiden Adrian Newey-designed automobile accomplished its first-full day on monitor, with Fernando Alonso on the wheel – Haas, Audi, Alpine and Cadillac.

Mercedes – the group who completed the week with probably the most laps (500) accomplished – and Racing Bulls had already reached their respective three-day testing allocations on Thursday. Teams might run on any three of the check’s 5 days.

The quickest lap instances haven’t been printed formally all week because of the closed standing of the shakedown however it’s understood Hamilton topped Friday’s working with a test-best time of 1:16.348 throughout his afternoon within the Ferrari SF-26.

That was a tenth faster than Mercedes’ George Russell went on Thursday when he clocked 1:16.445.

McLaren’s Lando Norris had set a 1:16.594 earlier on throughout Friday afternoon, ultimately ending second quickest, with Charles Leclerc third having set the morning tempo of 1:16.653 when he drove the brand new Ferrari. Friday’s three quickest instances have been considered set on the C3 tender tyres.

Max Verstappen accomplished 118 laps and was fifth quickest as Red Bull returned to trace three days on from Isack Hadjar’s crash within the moist.

‘Under no illusions…however we are able to construct from right here’ – Hamilton optimistic about Ferrari’s begin

Individual lap instances in pre-season testing are notoriously unreliable indicators of outright automobile efficiency.

That is especially more likely to have been the case from this ‘shakedown’ week when groups’ focus has been nearly solely on testing the reliability and techniques of their brand-new automobiles for F1’s 2026 rules.

Teams additionally typically run totally different tyres and gas hundreds, plus automobile and engine settings, throughout their runs in testing, making correct comparisons throughout the grid fraught with problem.

But Ferrari will definitely take coronary heart from the robust early reliability displayed by their new automobile and engine after the game’s biggest-ever regulation change dictated design groups overhaul their chassis and energy items for the brand new marketing campaign, which begins in March.

Having accomplished nearly 300 laps throughout the automobile’s opening two days on monitor, Leclerc and Hamilton mixed so as to add 145 extra to the group’s tally on Friday – taking Ferrari’s general depend for the week to a powerful 440.

Describing it as a “really enjoyable week”, Hamilton added: “Everyone is optimistic and extremely enthusiastic however we’re underneath no illusions. We know we have work to do.

“Mercedes have done great running as well. Red Bull and Haas did some great running as well. We don’t know where we are but I think it’s a solid first week and we can really build from here.

“There could also be some huge leaps which might be are going to want to take, improvement goes to be key.

“Just really making sure we leave no stone unturned and we are just really clear clear and concise with our communications and the decisions we take.

“It’s going to take all of us to be at our greatest and I’m seeing that everybody is coming with new power this yr, which is nice.”

McLaren and Red Bull make up for lost track time

Reigning double world champions McLaren, too, will be encouraged by their Friday mileage after racking up 166 laps between Norris and Oscar Piastri.

A fuel system problem had curtailed the Piastri’s Thursday running in the MCL40.

McLaren, who did not start at the test until Wednesday, described their week as “very productive” although they “nonetheless recognise that there’s nonetheless a lot to overview”.

Norris accomplished 86 laps through the afternoon and stated: “It’s so easy to get caught up in comparisons. We are all competitive, so you always want to see yourself do well and feel like you can be quick.

“We understood rather a lot each in low-fuel and high-fuel stuff, the tyres – what we got here right here to do – perceive the automobile, particularly from a reliability standpoint, ensuring all of the sensors are working as they need to, the PU, the gearbox, every thing. Reliability is among the most vital issues, so lots of it’s from that facet.

“A lot of it is stuff over the next few days and weeks the team will look into to try and improve and make better.

“From my facet, simply to get again cozy with the automobile. Some little bits that want altering right here and there. Still looks like a racecar, nonetheless feels quick, nonetheless fulfilling.”

Red Bull, in the meantime, returned to trace having needed to await spare components to be flown in after Hadjar had broken the rear of the R22 in an accident in moist situations three days earlier than.

Verstappen was on the wheel of the RB22 all day, topping 100 laps, and setting what was understood to be the fifth-quickest time behind Hamilton, Norris, Leclerc and Piastri.

Verstappen, who stated he had been feeling unwell, informed F1 on the finish of the day: “I did a lot of laps. We learned a lot. Still a lot of things we want to look into and do better, but that’s normal I guess.

“In basic for us with a brand new engine, to do the quantity of laps we did may be very good and it is a good begin for us. Positive, nevertheless it’s nonetheless very early days.”

Aston Martin start testing first Newey-Honda car in earnest

After briefly getting out of the garage in the final hour of Thursday’s session with four laps for Lance Stroll, Aston Martin finally truly got their pre-season up and running on the week’s fifth day.

Alonso drove the AMR26 for the first time – his maiden experience of a coveted Newey-designed car ahead of his 23rd season of F1 – and completed 61 laps. His quickest time was 1:20.795 amid focus on mileage and reliability checks as the team and new engine suppliers Honda play catch up.

“Definitely excited to be again within the automobile after the winter. For us, it was actually the very first day,” stated Alonso.

“I think we had a positive one. Sixty-plus laps and the car is responding well. First day and more to come.”

Alpine capped a productive week with their first Mercedes-powered automobile by recording Friday’s second-highest lap tally of 164 laps with Pierre Gasly.

Haas (195 laps between Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon) and the new-look Audi group (148 laps between Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg) additionally comfortably handed centuries after every struggling reliability glitches earlier within the week.

The new Cadillac group accomplished their first week of working alongside rival groups with 54 laps for Valtteri Bottas.

Williams have been the one group to not run this week however have stated their 2026 automobile shall be prepared for the primary Bahrain check in two weeks’ time.

When is F1 Bahrain pre-season testing?

The introduction of latest rules means there’s a sturdy schedule of three separate testing occasions earlier than the beginning of the 2026 season.

With the Barcelona Shakedown now full, F1 will subsequent head to Bahrain for 2 ‘official’ pre-season assessments, when media shall be current and dwell timing from the circuit accessible.

Two three-day Bahrain assessments happen on February 11-13 and 18-20.

When is the primary F1 race?

The groups then have two weeks to arrange for the opening spherical of the season, which is the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne from March 6-8.

The first apply periods of the season will happen on Friday March 6, with Qualifying on Saturday March 7 and the opening race on Sunday March 8.

Watch each race of the 2026 F1 season dwell on Sky Sports, beginning with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime