P1racenews AI automatic summary:
A rundown of everything that happened on the first day of F1 2026 pre-season testing.
Formula 1 has ushered in a new era with the completion of the first day of collective on-track running at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in a private test.
The initial pre-season test is taking place over five days this week, with all 11 teams participating at the Spanish circuit.
Efforts were made to keep the test as secretive as possible, with no official timing, live TV coverage, or media access allowed.
The event, known as a ‘shakedown,’ was held behind closed doors, with tight security to prevent unauthorized access.
Information was limited, but it was known that seven out of the 11 teams were in action on the first day.
Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar reportedly topped the timesheets, ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, with lap times not being official.
Various teams, including McLaren, Ferrari, Williams, and Aston Martin, faced challenges leading up to the test, impacting their participation.
Teams like Mercedes, with Valtteri Bottas driving, faced issues on the first day but aimed to maximize their running for the upcoming race season.
