Formula 1’s radical new era kicked off this week with a private “shakedown” in Spain, offering the first glimpse of the smaller, more electric-heavy cars for 2026.
Driving for Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton set the week’s fastest lap (1:16.348), narrowly pipping George Russell in the Mercedes by 0.097s.
Despite Hamilton’s flyer, Mercedes is the early favorite. They completed the most laps and appeared the most refined under the new 50/50 hybrid power regulations.
Red Bull debuted its first in-house engine with Ford, running reliably despite a crash by rookie Isack Hadjar. McLaren arrived late but showed pace, while Williams missed the test entirely, putting them on the back foot.
Adrian Newey’s first Aston Martin turned heads with a radical “bulging nose” and slim sidepods, though reliability issues limited their running.
The 2026 cars are smaller, lighter, and feature active aerodynamics (moveable wings).
Drivers must now manage a massive increase in electrical deployment, with George Russell noting the cars feel “more intuitive” despite the complexity.
