Overview
- Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton set the fastest reported lap of the week at 1:16.348 on Friday as track conditions improved, with times remaining unofficial.
- McLaren dismantled the MCL40 to diagnose a confirmed fuel‑system fault that halted Oscar Piastri after 48 laps on Thursday, before he logged a smooth session on Friday.
- Mercedes completed a high‑mileage, largely trouble‑free program earlier in the week, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli totaling 502 laps and the team shifting focus to setup work in Bahrain.
- Drivers cautioned that the competitive order is unclear after the closed‑door shakedown, with Charles Leclerc saying he has “no idea” where Ferrari stands on performance.
- All teams except Williams ran in Barcelona; official pre‑season tests are scheduled in Bahrain on February 11–13 and 18–20 ahead of the Melbourne season opener in March.