150 LAPS LATER: WHAT GEORGE RUSSELL DISCOVERED ABOUT THE NEW ACTIVE AERO WINGS IN BARCELONA
George Russell wraps up day one of F1 2026 testing in Barcelona. Discover why Mercedes is confident in the new power unit rules.
George Russell wrapped up his first day behind the wheel in Barcelona and left the track feeling good about where Mercedes stands.
Formula 1 is in the middle of a private week of testing at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Teams are mostly working in secret, but Mercedes shared its early thoughts after Monday’s first shakedown. With the new season—and a fresh set of rules—right around the corner, all eleven teams are hustling to get ready.
This week’s all about finally running the cars after months of simulations and wind tunnel time. There’s a cap on how much mileage teams can put in, so the focus is really on checking reliability, putting the cars under stress, and making sure what they see on track matches up with their data.
“It’s great to be back out there in an F1 car!” Russell said in the team’s press release. “The cars look awesome on track, which is good for the sport. They feel pretty different to drive, but once you get used to it, they’re actually pretty straightforward. I’m having fun in the cockpit, and I think fans have a lot to look forward to with these new rules.”
2026 F1 Regulation Change Highlights:
- Power units: Now it’s a 50/50 split between combustion and electric, all running on sustainable fuel.
- Active aero: Moveable wings to switch between more speed on the straights and more grip in the corners.
- Smaller cars: Shorter, narrower, lighter—should make for better racing.
- Energy use: Teams have to manage energy recovery even more carefully, and there are new rules to stop battery harvesting on long straights.
“We had a good day, but I have to give credit to some of the other teams too,” Russell added. “Red Bull’s power unit did a ton of laps—impressive for their first engine. Haas put in about the same mileage as we did, so Ferrari’s power unit is also looking strong. It’s nothing like how things were in 2014. The sport’s changed so much—the bar is way higher now.”
Russell’s young Italian teammate Antonelli felt the same way. “It was great being back in the car this morning, and more importantly, we got a lot done on day one here in Barcelona. There’s a lot to learn about these new machines, so every lap counts as we try to figure them out. The teams at Brackley and Brixworth did a fantastic job—getting a car out there that can run 150 laps on its first real day is no small feat.
“It’s early, though. We’ll find things to tweak over the next few days—testing is all about making improvements. Right now, the car feels good, and we want to build on this start with the rest of our track time here.”
Andrew Shovlin, the team’s trackside engineering boss, sounded pleased too.
“On the first day with any new car, our main goal is simple—get as many laps as possible under our belt. That’s how we start learning what we need for the rest of the week. Today was about getting to know the car, making sure it runs at the right temperatures, and seeing if we can handle long stints. We ticked all those boxes.
“It took a massive effort to get this car ready—both the chassis and the power unit teams have been grinding away at Brixworth for years. We don’t know how fast we are yet, but we’ve shown we can keep the car running, and that’s down to the hard work from everyone at both our factories.”
Mercedes has two more days of testing in Barcelona before the circus heads to Bahrain in February for public testing, where everyone will really get to see what these new cars can do.
SERGIO PEREZ BREAKS SILENCE ON CADILLAC’S FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2026 F1 SEASON
Discover why Sergio Perez is confident in Cadillac’s 2026 path despite urgent needs for better pace and reliability fixes.
Sergio Perez didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on Cadillac after the first four races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Cadillac shows up in 2026 as F1’s newest team, but honestly, not a lot of people expected fireworks right away. With veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Perez behind the wheel, the team’s start has been a mix, some moments full of promise, others derailed by reliability issues.
Still, Cadillac isn’t just stuck at the back. Lately, they’ve been right there fighting with Aston Martin and even managed to split them in Miami, which turned a few heads.
Perez knows the team is at risk of falling behind in this crazy-fast development race, though. “We still have work to do, but I’m confident we’re on the right path,” he told reporters, including Motorsport Week.
He added, “Sometimes, once tyre degradation sets in, we can hang with the midfield, but they always seem to find another gear. There’s a long way to go this season, but we’re in a rush to find more pace. We know Aston will get stronger, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Racing Aston Martin has actually brought Perez some enjoyment. He especially likes battling Fernando Alonso, calling those fights fair and satisfying. Still, he pointed out a weak spot: “We’re having fun with them. Racing Fernando is always great because he’s so fair. But we struggled with tyre degradation; we burnt through them too quickly. We picked the hard compound, but honestly, looking back, I should’ve gone with the soft.”
He said there’s plenty to analyse, and really, the key is getting a better grip on their car as they look ahead to Canada. “We don’t have much time, but in the short term, we need to fix the degradation. We have some ideas, but putting them together is our biggest challenge in the next few weeks.”
Cadillac may be the new kid on the block and still finding its feet, but it’s already starting to make an impact. The road out of the lower ranks won’t be easy, but they’re moving in the right direction.
HOW KIMI ANTONELLI’S THREE-RACE WIN STREAK IS REDEFINING THE MERCEDES TEAM HIERARCHY
With a 43-second gap in Miami, Antonelli proves he’s ready to lead the World Championship. Can Russell bounce back in Canada?
David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver, recently pointed out that Kimi Antonelli might be on track to overtake George Russell as Mercedes’ team leader.
Antonelli has been on an impressive run, clinching victories in the last three races and pulling ahead by 20 points over his main competitor and teammate, Russell.
At the Miami race, the young Italian once again outperformed his more seasoned teammate, with Russell managing only fourth place, trailing by 43 seconds.
Coulthard acknowledged Antonelli’s rapid rise in 2026, which is just his second season in F1. He highlighted Antonelli’s strengths and suggested that the Italian is, in many ways, now leading the Mercedes team.
“He’s come of age,” Coulthard said during the Up To Speed podcast.
Despite being relatively new, Antonelli has shown resilience, dealing not only with the pressure from a driver like Lando ready to strike but also with technical glitches like inconsistent paddle shifts. Coulthard mentioned how Antonelli kept his cool even when his engineer, Bono, was trying to help troubleshoot the issue in a tense moment.
“I think he’s earned the right to lead the World Championship,” Coulthard added, noting that this situation probably feels uncomfortable for George. Still, the expectations now lean heavily toward Antonelli leading the team, especially based on recent results.
Coulthard also pointed out that Russell has the experience and skill to reclaim his position as the team’s lead driver, but emphasised that only one can come out on top; someone must finish first and the other second.
The rivalry between them might start opening doors for other teams. Coulthard noted that improvements from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull were already noticeable, especially in Miami.
“Winning in the best car isn’t always straightforward. Many have tried and struggled,” he said.
For Russell, who is feeling the weight of this momentum shift, the upcoming race in Canada will be crucial if he wants to close the gap and halt Antonelli’s winning streak.
