Ibrahima Konate has only just returned to the Liverpool team from compassionate leave

Mercedes have emerged as the standout performers from the Barcelona shakedown, accumulating an impressive 500 laps across the five-day event in Spain.

The Silver Arrows topped the mileage charts comfortably, with Ferrari trailing in second place on 440 laps.

Whilst lap times held little significance during the testing period—teams focused primarily on reliability checks and data collection for the new 2026 machinery—Mercedes’ ability to rack up consistent running without major issues has positioned them as early frontrunners.

The team struggled to master the ground-effect regulations introduced in recent seasons, but appear to have made a breakthrough with the dramatically different 2026 technical package.

Mercedes are looking like hot favourites this year

 | REUTERS

Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle believes the German manufacturer’s performance demands serious attention heading into the new campaign.

“You can’t ignore the relentless pace and reliability that they’ve had. So, clearly, they’ve got a really good, cohesive package,” Brundle observed.

However, the veteran commentator urged restraint when drawing conclusions from the winter running.

He noted it remains “too early” to assess any team’s approach definitively, suggesting Mercedes have found “the sweet spot” in these initial stages of F1’s new era.

Martin Brundle has backed Mercedes to win the title this year

 | PABrundle highlighted potential variables, including how the car might behave in warmer conditions compared to the cooler Barcelona temperatures.

Aston Martin’s new challenger attracted considerable interest when it appeared in Barcelona, despite the team managing just 65 laps—the lowest tally among the ten squads present.

The car’s distinctive appearance, featuring aggressive bodywork designed to redirect airflow, bore the unmistakable influence of Adrian Newey, who joined the outfit last year.

Brundle acknowledged Newey’s track record but raised questions about whether the legendary designer can translate his vision into results immediately.

“Does he know enough about the Aston Martin wind tunnel, and their digital wind tunnel? Will he get correlation? Has he got the right people around him to interpret his brilliance?” Brundle pondered.

Adrian Newey signed a £30m-a-year deal with Aston Martin | PAFernando Alonso expressed satisfaction with his initial outing in the new machinery, declaring the “car is responding well” following his Friday running.

The Spaniard praised his team’s efforts to participate in the Barcelona event, describing it as a “tremendous effort” given their compressed preparation schedule.

Alonso pointed out the disparity in readiness between Aston Martin and their competitors, noting that several rivals had conducted filming days and shakedowns earlier in January before the Barcelona sessions.

For Aston Martin, Friday represented their very first opportunity to run the 2026 car, placing them at a significant disadvantage in terms of accumulated mileage.