F1 2026 testing live: Mercedes fastest head of Ferrari at Barcelona shakedown
Follow live F1 action from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with the first glimpse of the 2026 cars on the racetrack
The 2026 Formula 1 season is upon us and with just six weeks until the first race in Australia, the teams are now preparing for a campaign of unknowns.
New regulations this season mean it is a clean slate for all 11 teams, with Cadillac the first new team on the grid since Haas in 2016. Audi have also taken over Sauber, with Ford partnering with Red Bull to build their own engines.
McLaren won both world championships last year, with Lando Norris claiming his first drivers’ title. Yet this season, Mercedes are rumoured to be the frontrunners, though we won’t know anything until we see the cars out on track.
This week’s test behind-closed-doors in Barcelona is the first of three pre-season sessions for the teams, with official tests in Bahrain next month (11-13 February and 18-20 February). However, Williams won’t be present this week due to delays to their car.
Follow live updates from F1 pre-season testing with The Independent.
Day 4 - lap times, Russell fastest
That’s your lot for the penultimate day of the shakedown test!
George Russell set the quickest time with a speedy 1:16:445, with Mercedes leading the way once again - that’s their test done and dusted!
- George Russell - 1:16:445 (78 laps)
- Kimi Antonelli - 1:17:081 (90 laps)
- Charles Leclerc - 1:18:223 (83 laps)
- Oscar Piastri - 1:18:419 (48 laps)
- Arvid Lindblad - 1:18:451 (47 laps)
- Lewis Hamilton - 1:18:654 (87 laps)
- Liam Lawson - 1:18:840 (64 laps)
- Sergio Perez - 1:21:024 (66 laps)
- Lance Stroll - 1:46:404 (5 laps)
PHOTO: Aston Martin's car in Barcelona
The AMR26 breaks cover - in mysterious black-and-white style!
ANALYSIS: How Lewis Hamilton is making his mark at Ferrari: ‘This car has a clear direction’
By Kieran Jackson
Twelve months into his multi-year Ferrari contract, Lewis Hamilton’s re-emergence into the public domain on Friday did not carry the weight of giddiness and expectation of a year ago. In hindsight, perhaps the delirium of his debut season was a bit too much for all involved.
Yet 2026 is an open book – new regulations and potentially a new pecking order – and the first season in which Hamilton can fully stamp his imprint on a new-look car. Whether or not the boffins in Maranello have heeded the knowledge and experience of Hamilton’s 19 years in Formula 1, however, is another matter altogether.
Full piece below:
How Lewis Hamilton is making his mark at Ferrari: ‘This car has a clear direction’
Aston Martin leave the garage
At long last, into the final hour, Aston Martin emerge in Barcelona!
Lance Stroll is the man at the wheel of the AMR26 but he’ll have less than an hour to test today before, hopefully, a full day’s running tomorrow.
The car is adorned in a temporary black livery, with their launch taking place a week on Monday, 9 February.
George Russell goes even quicker
Russell puts himself half-a-second quicker than the rest of the field with a 1:16:641.
Biggest statement so far this week?
PHOTOS: Lewis Hamilton out on track this morning
Charles Leclerc sets his fastest time so far
The Ferrari driver sets a push time of 1:18:450, a-second-and-a-half down on Russell’s leading time...
Just over an hour to go...
George Russell goes fastest
The first time this week that the 1:17 barrier has been broken!
Russell goes top with a 1:16:928, around two-tenths quicker than Kimi Antonelli.
Less than two hours to go now until today’s testing session concludes - and still no sign of Aston Martin.
We’re hearing their intention is still to get the AMR26 out on track, having spent the morning fitting the Honda power unit to the chassis.
Meanwhile, back in Grove...
Williams are not present at this week’s shakedown test but, as we heard from James Vowles yesterday, they are set to feature in Bahrain in two weeks time.
Today, Carlos Sainz has had his seat fitted at their base in Oxfordshire.
ICYMI: Alpine confirm Christian Horner interest
Alpine revealed on Sunday that former Red Bull boss Christian Horner is among a group interested in investing in the Formula 1 team.
Horner was sacked as team principal following July’s British Grand Prix before his official exit was agreed in September, leaving the 52-year-old free to return to the sport.
Alpine said it was “no secret” that Otro Capital had held preliminary talks to sell its stake in the team, which finished bottom of the constructors’ championship standings last season.
Full story below:
Christian Horner considers investment in Alpine after Red Bull exit
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