F1 makes biggest gear shift in a generation

For months, the whispers up and down the Formula 1 paddock have been that Mercedes were the frontrunners going into a season of seismic change. Now there is actual on-track validity to back that up.

Their drivers may have packed up and left the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona before the final day of this behind-closed-doors test having completed their three permitted days of running. But with more than 2,325 kilometres completed by George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, they had done more laps – in excess of 500 – than any other team, looked the most ­reliable and were quickest before being eclipsed late on the final day by a Lewis Hamilton lap.

Antonelli even managed a full race simulation on Wednesday. Russell, already favourite with the ­bookmakers for a maiden world title, was quick to point out that it’s “very much early days” and with good reason.

At the first test in 2022, for ­example, they looked reliable and quick only to end up with a porpoising car. And no one knows for sure how the W17 might behave when fully pushed to the limit, such are the gargantuan nature of these changes.

For the opening grand prix in Melbourne in five weeks’ time, the cars have entirely new power units with a 50-50 split between the combustion engine and harnessed electric power. They’re shorter, narrower and lighter, and the drag reduction system has been replaced by active aero, ­meaning that drivers can alter both the front and back wings throughout a lap.

In short, it is the biggest change of the sport in a generation and speculation has been rife about who might come out on top.

Mercedes may have set the early benchmark but there are two more tests to come, starting in Bahrain on 11 February, not to mention a ­marathon 24-race season, so it is nigh-on impossible to make realistic predictions at this early stage.

Russell, though, was also clearly impressed by Red Bull’s power unit, the first time that the team have built such a thing in-house. A few years ago, an empty field stood where Red Bull Powertrains now exists, aiming to take on such established names as Mercedes and Ferrari. As the team like to say, “not bad for a fizzy drinks company”.

Team principal Laurent Mekies has repeatedly played down their chances in their first season as an engine ­supplier and yet the signs have been very positive. But the RB22 looks quick and so too does the Racing Bulls car, which is similarly powered.

Following a full day’s running on Friday, Max Verstappen said: “Still a work in progress but I think we’ve hit the ground running quite well.” Talking of work, Red Bull had to fly new parts over from the UK to rebuild the car after Isack Hadjar’s heavy crash on the Tuesday.

McLaren have won the constructors’ championship for the past two seasons but their pre-season preparations have been far from perfect. A fuel systems issue curtailed running on the second of their three days but they bounced back on the final day.

Afterwards, defending champion Lando Norris, sporting the No1 on his car for the first time, declared that he was “quite happy”.

Ferrari had a troubled season in 2025 but the signs are positive going into this rules overhaul.

Lewis Hamilton, who clocked the fastest lap of the week – a 1:16.348 – already looks far happier with the car at his disposal than he has done ­during F1’s ground effect era.

“The car generation is actually more fun to drive,” he said. “It’s oversteery and snappy and sliding. It’s easier to catch and I would definitely say more enjoyable.”

The big loser of the Barcelona test was Williams, who failed to even turn up for it. Team principal James Vowles was left to deny rumours that the car was overweight and had failed its safety tests. “There is currently no information about the weight because the car has not yet been weighed in its final configuration,” Vowles said.

Aston Martin were very nearly in the same boat in an innovative-looking car created by Adrian Newey for the first time.

The AMR26 finally joined for the last hour of Thursday only to abruptly stop on track after a few laps. It fared significantly better on the final day but not enough to see if Newey has come up with his usual ground-breaking innovations.

Photograph by Mercedes-AMG F1/PA Wire