Barcelona Shakedown Day 1: Mercedes, Haas and Alpine Begin 2026 F1 Era with Strong Mileage

The 2026 Formula 1 pre-season officially gathered momentum on Monday (January 26) as the Barcelona Shakedown got underway at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, marking the first multi-team on-track running of the new regulation era.

With teams restricted to three of the five available shakedown days, seven outfits opted to run on the opening day, focusing primarily on reliability checks, system validation, and early data gathering under cool but stable conditions.

Mercedes-AMG F1 Complete Over 700km on Opening Day

Mercedes-AMG F1 Team enjoyed a productive first day with its new Mercedes-AMG F1 W17 E PERFORMANCE, logging a combined 151 laps (over 700km) across the day.

Kimi Antonelli took to the wheel during the morning session, becoming the first car on track as the pit lane opened on a damp circuit. After initial running on intermediate tyres, Antonelli switched to slicks—sampling the C3 Soft and C1 Hard compounds—and completed 56 laps before lunch.

“It was nice to be back in the car and, more importantly, we’ve had a productive first day,” said Antonelli. “There is lots for us to learn with these new machines, so it’s important we build knowledge and complete as much mileage as possible. Completing over 150 laps on the first proper day of running is a great achievement.”

George Russell took over in the afternoon and added 95 laps, expressing optimism about the new-generation cars.

“The cars look really cool out on the circuit and that’s positive for the sport,” Russell said. “They are quite different to drive but once you understand them, it feels intuitive. I think there’s a lot for fans to look forward to.”

Russell also noted the high level of preparedness across the paddock, highlighting strong mileage completed by Red Bull Powertrains and Ferrari-powered teams.

Mercedes Focused on Learning and Reliability

Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin confirmed Mercedes’ primary goal was reliability and thermal stability.

“The main thing with any new car is getting laps in,” Shovlin explained. “Today was about understanding temperatures, ensuring we could run long stints, and proving the car could stay on track. That’s a testament to the work done at Brackley and Brixworth.”

Franco Colapinto Debuts New Car in Barcelona Running

Franco Colapinto also experienced his first taste of a new-generation Formula 1 car, completing 60 laps (279km)across morning and afternoon sessions in cool but sunny conditions, with track temperatures ranging from 6°C to 14°C.

“It’s exciting to begin my first pre-season with a brand-new car under new regulations,” Colapinto said. “There’s a lot to learn, but the positivity in the garage is great. We have two more days to add mileage and keep improving.”

Alpine Continue Systems Checks with New Regulations

Alpine Managing Director Steve Nielsen praised the team’s readiness as the car hit the track immediately when the pit lane opened.

“Getting the car out almost immediately on the first day is testament to the work done at the factory and trackside,” Nielsen said. “With a completely new car, minor issues are expected. This phase is about learning, not rushing.”

Haas F1 Team Log Solid Start with VF-26

TGR Haas F1 Team also enjoyed a productive opening day of Shakedown Week, with Esteban Ocon piloting the VF-26 following a successful private filming day at Fiorano.

Running on a mix of wet, intermediate, and slick tyres, Haas focused exclusively on reliability and system checks.

Team Principal Ayao Komatsu said:
“With new regulations, it’s vital to be running. Every lap teaches us something. We’re gathering data and identifying issues, but for a first day, I’m happy with how we’ve started.”

Ocon echoed the sentiment, praising the team’s efforts to be track-ready early.

“From Fiorano to Barcelona, people have moved mountains to make this happen,” Ocon said. “For the first real day of driving a new car, it’s gone well.”

What’s Next in F1 Pre-Season Testing

Each team is permitted three shakedown days in Barcelona before attention turns to the official pre-season tests in Bahrain, scheduled for February 11–13 and February 18–20. The 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship will then begin at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne from March 6–8.

As teams continue to unlock the potential of their new machines, Barcelona’s shakedown has set the stage for an intriguing and highly competitive new era in Formula 1.