Following the initial day of group track sessions in a private test at Barcelona-Catalunya, Formula 1 is entering an exciting new phase. This week marks the first of three pre-season testing events at the Spanish venue, running over five days and inviting participation from all 11 teams.
Details about the testing were kept tightly under wraps, as F1 made significant efforts to maintain secrecy. Officially labeled a “shakedown,” this private event features no official timing, no live TV broadcasts, and no media access to the circuit. Access was heavily restricted, with locked gates and security personnel preventing media, photographers, and fans from catching a glimpse of the on-track action.
Although an unofficial live timing stream appeared briefly on YouTube during the morning, it was taken down by afternoon. From the limited information obtained, Crash.net understands that seven out of the 11 teams participated on Monday. Defending champions McLaren and Ferrari confirmed they would miss at least the first day of testing, while Williams will skip the entire initial test due to their car not being ready. Aston Martin faces a similar situation but attributes their delay to a strategic decision to maximize development time, planning to join testing as early as Thursday, thus missing at least one test day.
On the track, Red Bull’s Isaac Hajar is reported to have set the fastest unofficial lap time of 1:18.159, edging out Mercedes’ George Russell, who recorded a 1:18.696. Kimi Antonelli started the morning behind the wheel of the Mercedes W17 before handing over to Russell. Hajar made his debut in the Red Bull RB22 and completed all the team’s runs solo. Throughout the day, Red Bull and Mercedes battled for top lap times.
Valtteri Bottas, piloting the new Cadillac for the first time, noted that almost every team encountered issues on day one. “There were some problems throughout the day, but we’re working through them. That’s why we’re here, and it seemed like every team had some challenges,” Bottas said in one of the few authorized interviews. “My current focus is getting more laps in daily. It’s fantastic to be back in the car. The priority now is building mileage every day.”
Bottas added, “We completed just over 30 laps today, mainly installation laps and checks, but it’s necessary to get good mileage and ensure a reliable package for the season opener.” The morning also saw at least three red flags, reportedly involving Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto.
In terms of track time, Haas had a particularly active day with Esteban Ocon completing 154 laps—the highest among all drivers. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu commented, “Every lap and run uncovers new challenges we must address. But that’s the purpose of this testing, isn’t it? We are collecting data and identifying issues to fix. It’s early days, but I’m very pleased with our progress so far.”
Ferrari and McLaren are scheduled to begin their 2026 testing programs on Tuesday.
Fan Take:
This glimpse into the early testing phase is thrilling for racing fans, signaling fierce competition ahead as teams refine their cars amid challenges. The secrecy and intense development battles hint at an unpredictable and exciting season, keeping the sport’s future full of promise.
