P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes leave F1 testing EARLY after dominant display in Barcelona
Mercedes has been declared the winners of the shakedown, allowing them to leave F1’s first pre-season test early. This five-day private shakedown in Barcelona marked the beginning of the 2026 season’s pre-season testing. Only Mercedes and Racing Bulls managed to finish their runs early out of all teams that were capped at three out of five days of running. Mercedes showcased strong performance, completing over 400 laps with minimal issues, including George Russell topping the timesheets. Speculations hint at Mercedes mastering the new regulations, with positive vibes from Russell, Kimi Antonelli, and Toto Wolff during their interviews this week. Sky Sports F1 pundit Ted Kravitz crowned Mercedes as the ‘winners’ of the shakedown, a possible sign of dominance in the 2026 season.
