What we learned from F1's private Barcelona shakedown

Formula 1's five-day shakedown test in Barcelona has officially wrapped up. While the test wasn't broadcast, there's still a lot to be taken from the event, which offered the first glimpse at the new 2026 cars and power units.

Here's what we learned from the Barcelona preseason shakedown.

Mercedes, Ferrari have momentum

Rumors and speculation prior to the event suggested that Mercedes is the favorite to open the 2026 season. And after a flawless week of running, it's clear why. The Silver Arrows were not only ahead of the pack in completing their testing program, they exceeded even their own expectations, according to team engineer Andrew Shovlin. Mercedes recorded more mileage than any other team - a testament to its superb reliability - and held the fastest lap when the team packed up after Thursday's session. George Russell left Barcelona saying how excited he is to reach Bahrain for the next set of testing and eventually go racing. While preseason numbers aren't everything, confidence is, and Mercedes left Barcelona with a ton of it.

While Mercedes captured all the early buzz, Ferrari ended the week on strong footing. The Scuderia enjoyed a rather trouble-free shakedown that culminated in Lewis Hamilton setting the fastest lap of the week during the closing moments Friday. If it weren't for Mercedes, the possibility of a resurgent Prancing Horse would likely be front and center. But Ferrari probably has no issue flying under the radar while the rest of the paddock fawns over its competitors.

Laps completed by power unit:

Fastest lap times, via Sky Sports:

Adrian Newey did it again

What a way to make an entrance. Aston Martin's 2026 car, the AMR26, only came out on track during the final hour of Thursday's session. But boy does Adrian Newey sure know how to design a car that gets everyone talking. The AMR26 features numerous elements that are fundamentally different compared to its rivals, including the rear suspension being attached to the rear wing pylon, underbite sidepod shape, and front wing. Different doesn't always mean better, but you can be sure many in the paddock will be taking notes on the Aston Martin and its development throughout the season.

Red Bull Powertrains passes first test

Red Bull's power unit didn't suffer any reliability problems this week, and that has to feel like a major win for the constructor that bravely built its engine in-house. Although Isack Hadjar's crash Tuesday interrupted Red Bull's shakedown, the engine didn't cause the team any visible stress. Between Red Bull and Racing Bulls, the power unit compiled a whopping 624 laps of mileage.

McLaren the big unknown

There's not much to make of the reigning double champions after Barcelona. McLaren completed only 287 laps and encountered a fuel systems issue Thursday that ended its run prematurely. Mileage that leans on the lower side and a confirmed problem may seem like justified reasons for anxiety. But it's worth remembering that no team had a better track record with car development over the final years of the last regulation cycle. Bet against McLaren at your own risk.

Audi, Cadillac face steep learning curve

If you're expecting a Cinderella story in which one of F1's newcomers shock the world by defeating the behemoths of the sport, you'll likely be disappointed. Audi and Cadillac should be applauded for getting a car on track this week, something that even a few established F1 teams struggled with. But the Barcelona shakedown only emphasized the enormous task facing Audi and especially Cadillac. Both teams battled their fair share of issues, with only Aston Martin ranking below Audi and Cadillac in laps completed. Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas said the team still has "lots of problems to solve and a bit of a mountain to climb," while Audi's Mattia Binotto put it best, saying he's "never seen such a long list" of issues to remedy.

Trouble for Williams

Williams started a new set of regulations in a way no team wants to: on its back foot. Williams announced days before the shakedown that it wouldn't be in Barcelona as it strives to "push for maximum car performance." James Vowles then said Wednesday that the team could have arrived late, but it would have jeopardized other parts of its development program. Previous crash test failures and weight concerns with its cars were dismissed as "murmurings." It's still early, but the setbacks don't inspire confidence, especially for a team that was vocal about 2026 being the start of its journey back to the top.

New cars look great

We still don't know if the new regulations will improve the wheel-to-wheel racing, but we certainly do know that the 2026 cars look a heck of a lot better than their predecessors. The new aerodynamic profiles - especially the front wings - really bring the cars alive, while the minor size and weight reductions seem to have made a difference too. From an aesthetic standpoint, there's no doubt that the 2026 cars are a much-needed upgrade.

How the new cars drive

If there's one word that sums up how the 2026 cars compare to the previous generation, it's "different." But here's how the drivers have described what it's like being in the cockpit.

"The car generation is actually a little bit more fun to drive. It's oversteery and snappy and sliding, but it's a little bit easier to catch, and I would definitely say more enjoyable." - Lewis Hamilton

"The cars looked really cool out on the circuit, and that's positive for our sport. They are quite different for us as drivers, but once you get your head around it, driving them is quite intuitive." - George Russell

"It's very, very different. Feels like there's a lot more we can do as drivers potentially to make a difference, which is good." - Liam Lawson

"It's definitely a lot less load in general. It's a bit more predictable compared to the previous generation of cars. They're more simple, easier to play around with them. On the (power unit) side, there's a lot more options for the driver to play with." - Isack Hadjar

"They are very different. ... But it's very cool to have the power unit being 50% electric now. You'll go out of the corner and you have so much speed being deployed, and then you can see how strong it is. These things are different, and you need to get used to it and adapt your way of driving the car as well." - Gabriel Bortoleto

"It's a bit of a step slower in terms of cornering speeds. In terms of acceleration and straight-line speed, it probably feels quicker than it did last year. You get to 340, 350 (kilometers per hour) quite a bit quicker than we did in previous years. It's bit more of a challenge in many places, which is a good thing. But then you have a bit more to understand from the battery (and) power unit. All of those things are in some ways more complicated and just different." - Lando Norris

Daniel Valente is theScore's lead Formula 1 writer. Follow Daniel on X at @F1GuyDan.