P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes chief shocked by F1 testing
Mercedes F1 chief James Allison expressed surprise at the lack of breakdowns and issues during the Barcelona shakedown where teams tested their 2026 machinery.
During the five-day shakedown, Mercedes accumulated 500 laps and 2,325km with drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.
Despite concerns about reliability due to new rules, teams in the 2026 test exceeded the mileage of the 2014 test, with three teams surpassing all teams’ total mileage from 2014 on their own on day one.
Allison was impressed by the unexpected high level of reliability across the grid during the test, surpassing expectations of potential issues with new systems.
This positive surprise bodes well for the upcoming season, allowing teams to focus on racing rather than dealing with technical issues.
