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.
GEORGE RUSSELL ADMITS ANTONELLI IS "EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK" BUT REFUSES TO CONCEDE TITLE
Kimi Antonelli secured his 3rd straight F1 win in Miami, leaving George Russell 43 seconds behind and 20 points down in the title race. (130 chars)
George Russell isn’t flinching. He’s not ready to let go of the story, even as Kimi Antonelli keeps grabbing headlines. Antonelli’s been tearing it up this season – three straight wins, all from pole – and it’s got people talking. Miami was rough for Russell; he finished fourth, over 43 seconds behind Antonelli. That gap isn’t just big; it’s glaring, and it’s putting some real heat on their rivalry at Mercedes.
Russell isn’t pretending things are fine, but he’s not throwing in the towel either. He gets what Antonelli’s doing and gives props where they’re deserved. “He’s a fantastic driver, and he’s been fast since day one,” Russell said. “You don’t win all those championships as a kid if you’re not quick.” He means it, but he’s also drawing a boundary. Russell still believes in himself, and he’s not giving up on the championship.
“I’ve still got confidence in myself, and I haven’t forgotten how to drive,” he said with a little smile. “It’s just a tricky patch, but we’re only four races in; there’s a lot more to come. We’ll sort things out over the next few weeks.”
That “tricky patch” doesn’t just mean some tough luck; it includes a 20-point deficit and a teammate who won’t stop rewriting history. Antonelli’s winning streak has changed the vibe at Mercedes, at least for now.
Russell knows all about momentum and how it doesn’t always stick around. “He’s got momentum right now; he’s flying,” Russell admitted. “But I’ve won championships myself, and I know momentum swings back and forth all year.” He actually doesn’t seem bothered by the points gap. “Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it,” he said.
It’s a calm answer from a guy who’s been here before, leaning on experience while Antonelli rides his hot streak. Russell keeps saying 'big picture, patience, not panic'.
“I just want to get back on top of the podium,” he said. “I had the pace for the first three races, but this weekend I was nowhere close. It could have gone very differently these last few weeks, and this weekend could’ve just been a blip. But some races in Japan and China didn’t go my way. That’s how F1 goes sometimes.”
Still, confidence doesn’t erase a 20-point gap, not if Antonelli keeps cruising. If Antonelli keeps piling up wins, Russell’s going to have to fight more than just the stopwatch. Losing to your teammate over and over starts to mess with your head. Russell began the season as the guy to beat, but the longer this keeps up, the tougher it gets to grab hold of the story again.
He’s holding firm, for now. But F1 doesn’t wait for anyone. What does Russell call “just a tricky run”? Well, if momentum doesn’t swing his way soon, it could become a whole lot more than that.
MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES FRONT ROW IN MIAMI AS RED BULL UPGRADES DELIVER IMMEDIATE RESULTS
Charles Leclerc admitted surprise at Red Bull's pace after Max Verstappen finished P2, just 0.166s behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.
Charles Leclerc expected Red Bull to bounce back, but he couldn’t help admiring Max Verstappen’s raw speed at the Miami Grand Prix.
Red Bull rolled into Miami with a big upgrade, looking to recover after a rough start to the season. Verstappen, a four-time world champ, landed his Red Bull in second during qualifying. He was only 0.166 seconds behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, nearly snatching pole. After qualifying, Verstappen said he finally feels like he’s back in control of his car.
Leclerc was impressed by the turnaround. “Honestly, it’s not shocking to see Kimi up there. Mercedes has been the quickest team this year, and Kimi’s been amazing these last few races,” Leclerc said. “But Max and Red Bull are coming back like this? That’s a bit more surprising. The upgrades clearly worked, and you can’t forget how strong that team really is. You never expect them to just sit back and accept a slow start.”
He added, “We figured they’d come back swinging, but to see them right back on the front row after struggling at the start… that’s something else. It’s pretty remarkable. Still, my job’s the same: beat those guys. That’s where my head’s at right now.”
Leclerc had to settle for third on the grid for Sunday’s race. Ferrari looked strong early in qualifying, but their hopes faded by Q3.
He talked about the changing conditions, but didn’t think that’s what hurt Ferrari. “The wind definitely played a part, but track temperature wasn’t all that different, so I don’t think that’s the reason,” he said. “Maybe the track changed, and we didn’t see it coming, or maybe pushing harder today in qualifying just made our car’s weak spots stand out more.”
Leclerc admitted he hadn’t dug into the numbers yet; he’d just gotten out of the car. “We’ll have to check the details to figure out exactly where we lost time.”
