P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Predicting a pecking order from F1’s Barcelona test would be foolish, but some clear winners and losers have still emerged…
The first pre-season test of Formula 1 in 2026 did not determine the outcome of any team’s season, but some teams showed more promise than others during the five-day event, with teams having the opportunity to run for three days.
Mercedes emerged as a clear winner in the first collective running of F1 2026. The narrative that Mercedes was the favorite for 2026 was transformed from whispers and reputation to hard facts after their impressive performance during the test.
On the other hand, F1 and its teams seemed to lose goodwill in building excitement for the 2026 season. The excessive security measures and tightly-controlled flow of information during the pre-season test left a sour taste, reflecting a disconnect with fans’ anticipation for the new season.
Surprisingly, Ferrari managed to overshadow Mercedes by setting the fastest time on the last day of testing, demonstrating that worrying about lap times early on may be futile. Despite Mercedes’ strong start and mileage, Ferrari’s performance hinted at potential sleeper success during the test.
