P1racenews AI automatic summary:
While McLaren has conceded it is too early to make predictions over the F1 2026 pecking order, one team in particular has caught its eye.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has acknowledged that Mercedes “raised the bar” with their strong performance at the Barcelona shakedown event.
Mercedes recorded the highest mileage of any team, completing 500 laps over three days of testing.
Teams will have another opportunity to test their cars next week in Bahrain, where they are expected to focus on optimizing speed.
Stella admits it is challenging to assess performance accurately at this stage, as details of other teams’ testing programs and conditions vary.
He highlights Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull as the top performers so far, with Mercedes impressing with their reliability.
Stella emphasizes the need for McLaren to match the high standards set by Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull as they prepare for the upcoming season.
He also notes that the diversity of power units among the top teams suggests there may not be significant performance gaps between them.
