P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The third day of testing in Barcelona is steaming along at full speed. McLaren drove onto the track for the first time, whilst Mercedes is continuing to make a big impression.
At the start of the 2026 F1 pre-season testing, Mercedes showcased its reliability with George Russell putting in the laps while McLaren made its first appearance.
Although several teams took to the track as rain was expected but didn’t arrive, Audi and Haas faced setbacks.
Nico Hulkenberg’s Audi encountered technical issues, and Oliver Bearman briefly interrupted the session before resuming after the lunch break.
All eyes were on McLaren as Lando Norris finally hit the track with the MCL40 sporting the No.1, completing 34 laps smoothly.
Mercedes continued to impress with Russell’s 92 completed laps so far, enhancing the data accumulation on the W17 alongside Kimi Antonelli.
Red Bull, Ferrari, and Cadillac have yet to make an appearance, while Aston Martin and Williams were confirmed absent.
