Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli recorded his quickest lap during testing on the third day of Formula 1’s private shakedown in Barcelona. On Wednesday, Mercedes drivers broke the benchmark twice, starting with George Russell posting a time of 1:17.580 in the morning session, only for Antonelli to surpass it later with a 1:17.382.
While lap times don’t tell the whole story in pre-season tests, Mercedes had another solid day, completing an impressive 183 laps in total. Russell earned 92 points in the morning, followed closely by Antonelli’s 91 points in the afternoon. The W17 not only led the five-day test timings but also demonstrated strong reliability without major issues.
Meanwhile, McLaren’s 2026 car made its public testing debut on Wednesday in Barcelona, with reigning world champion Lando Norris behind the wheel. Norris, showing the number 1 on his car for the first time, completed 77 laps and secured the third fastest time.
Audi faced more challenges, with Nico Hulkenberg stopping after a handful of installation laps and technical issues limiting their session to just 27 laps on Monday. However, Audi managed to return to the track later in the week. Haas driver Olly Bearman and Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad both caused red flags after stopping on track on Wednesday.
Six teams participated on Wednesday, notably missing was Red Bull after Hajar’s significant crash on day two. The team is still repairing the RB22 and will only be able to test on one of the remaining three days. Ferrari, Cadillac, Aston Martin—expected to debut their AMR26 by Thursday—and Williams all chose not to participate on Wednesday.
Fan Take: This update is crucial for racing fans because it showcases Mercedes’ strong start and hints at potential dominance, while also highlighting the struggles of teams like Audi and Red Bull. These early signs of reliability and pace could set the tone for an exciting and unpredictable 2026 F1 season.
