Overview
- Mercedes completed roughly 500 laps with solid reliability and Toto Wolff insisted the power unit complies with the rules following rival complaints.
- George Russell highlighted Aston Martin’s radical rear suspension and overall AMR26 concept, and the team canceled a planned filming day after gathering sufficient data.
- Ferrari called its Barcelona running productive yet early, with Lewis Hamilton topping the unofficial times, and it hired Guillaume Dezoteux as head of performance operations.
- Williams was the only team to miss the shakedown, unveiled the FW48 as planned, and said it will supplement lost mileage with simulator and dyno programs; Carlos Sainz said he is excited to race.
- The official winter tests in Bahrain are scheduled for February 11–13 and February 18–20, with teams expecting a clearer competitive picture there.