Overview
- Mercedes logged a standout Barcelona shakedown with 502 laps, reinforcing perceptions that its new package is well prepared for the regulation reset.
- George Russell said he wants to go head-to-head with Max Verstappen this season and predicted a multi-team fight that could include McLaren and Ferrari.
- Williams confirmed it skipped Barcelona due to FW48 production delays, focused on Virtual Track Testing and simulator work, and will run in Bahrain on 11–13 February.
- Team boss James Vowles ruled out a 2026 title challenge, set the 2025 fifth-place finish as the baseline for progress, and pledged a thorough internal review to prevent a repeat of the delays.
- From Williams’ assessment, Red Bull’s new power unit appeared impressively reliable, Ferrari showed strong consistency with questions over outright speed, and Mercedes ran early race simulations with few interruptions.