Mercedes made a strong impression by setting a new fastest lap time on the second-to-last day of Formula 1’s pre-season testing in Barcelona. On the second day, Mercedes continued to lead the timesheets at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, this time with George Russell topping the chart.
Russell improved the fastest test time to 1:16.641, surpassing the previous best set by teammate Kimi Antonelli earlier, who recorded 1:17.081 and led on Wednesday. It was another productive day for Mercedes, which completed a substantial 168 laps on Thursday, keeping them at the top of the mileage leaderboard after their final allowed day of running in Barcelona.
Charles Leclerc secured third place with a time of 1:19.128, taking over from teammate Lewis Hamilton in the afternoon. Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, bounced back from an early, minor spin shown on social media and completed 170 laps, while Leclerc finished with 85 laps.
Aston Martin Finally Hits the Track, McLaren Faces Issues
Thursday marked the debut of Aston Martin’s highly anticipated 2026 F1 car after the Silverstone-based team was late to the initial pre-season test. The AMR26, the first Aston Martin F1 car designed by Adrian Newey, arrived in Spain late Wednesday and underwent work through the night and into Thursday before finally running on track with Lance Stroll behind the wheel during the last hour of the afternoon session.
The day ended dramatically when the sleek black AMR26 stopped on track, triggering a red flag. Before the breakdown, Stroll recorded a slow lap of 1:46.404, placing Aston Martin at the bottom of the timesheet for the day.
McLaren’s Thursday did not go smoothly. After a promising Wednesday, Oscar Piastri’s day in the MCL40 was cut short due to a fuel system problem. “It was great to be back in the car, especially with the new model. There are many new challenges this season, so it was good to start addressing them,” Piastri said. “Unfortunately, we had a fuel system issue that limited our running, but the team is working hard to fix it and hopes to get back on track tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, Red Bull skipped Thursday’s testing as they awaited replacement parts after Isaac Hajar’s fiery crash on Tuesday, planning to resume on Friday. Haas also sat out due to mechanical troubles on Wednesday, and Alpine and Audi saved their final practice day for Friday. Williams missed the entire opening test as their FW48 car was not ready in time.
Fan Take:
This pre-season testing showcases how crucial reliability and preparation are heading into the new F1 season, with Mercedes clearly demonstrating their strength and consistency. Aston Martin’s late but dramatic entry and McLaren’s technical hurdles highlight the unpredictability and excitement that lie ahead for fans and teams alike.
