P1racenews AI automatic summary:
F1 Testing 2026 Results: Barcelona shakedown times as Hamilton steals Norris’ limelight
Lando Norris delivered McLaren’s best pre-season showing in Barcelona on the final day, narrowly outpaced by Lewis Hamilton at the end of testing. Norris and Piastri alternated driving duties due to Piastri’s earlier reliability struggles. Hamilton surged to the top spot in the final moments, clocking a time of 1:16.348. Mercedes completed 500 laps, Ferrari over 400, and Haas showed impressive reliability during the week.
In today’s pre-season testing, eight F1 teams were active in the morning session, with Mercedes and Racing Bulls having already completed their allotted days. Williams did not participate with their 2026 car as it was not track-ready. Aston Martin and Fernando Alonso aimed for extensive running, with other notable drives coming from drivers like Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc posting competitive times.
Highlights included Leclerc setting the quickest time in the morning, while Hamilton took over in the afternoon and topped the timesheets. Norris rejoined F1 as a world champion, showcasing excitement about having the number one on his car. Additionally, the day featured promise from Haas and a headline about possible Alpine moves.
