After the primary day of group driving on observe throughout a non-public check on the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit, F1 has ushered in an thrilling new period.
The primary of three pre-season assessments will probably be held on the Spanish circuit over 5 days this week, with all 11 groups invited to participate.
Info was troublesome to acquire as F1 went to nice lengths to maintain the assessments as secret as doable.
Formally, the so-called “shakedown” is a non-public occasion. There will probably be no official timing or reside tv protection, and media won’t be allowed into Barcelona.
The circuit’s gates have been locked and safety guards patrolled the circuit to maintain away media, photographers and followers who might need tried to get a peek on the cheeky motion.
An unofficial stream with reside timing appeared on YouTube within the morning, however was eliminated by the afternoon.
From the restricted data out there, Crash.web understands that seven of the 11 groups have been lively on Monday.
Reigning champions McLaren and Ferrari have already introduced that they are going to skip a minimum of the primary day’s follow, whereas Williams will miss your complete first check on account of not having its automotive prepared in time.
On Monday, it was revealed that Aston Martin is in an analogous state of affairs, however the crew’s official assertion is that their delays are on account of a call to maximise improvement time.
Aston Martin is due to participate in testing as early as Thursday, which means it is going to lose a minimum of one in every of its three permitted check days.
Hajar leads Pink Bull to the highest on the primary day
On observe, Pink Bull’s Isaac Hajar is assumed to have topped the timesheets, forward of Mercedes’ George Russell.
It is price stressing that the lap occasions are unofficial, however Hajjar is believed to have clocked a time of 1:18.159, with Russell clocking a time of 1:18.696.
Kimi Antonelli drove the W17 within the morning earlier than handing over to Russell, whereas Hajjar made his observe debut within the RB22 and accomplished all solo Pink Bull runs.
Pink Bull and Mercedes competed for the quickest lap occasions all through the day.
Valtteri Bottas, driving the brand new Cadillac for the primary time, advised that each crew confronted some type of downside on the primary day.
“There have been some points all through the day, however we’re debugging them. That is why we’re right here, and each crew appeared to have had some points,” Bottas informed F1.TV in one of many few approved interviews performed.
“Proper now I am excited about these issues severely and making an attempt to get an increasing number of laps daily. Nevertheless it’s nice to be right here and get within the automotive. My precedence listing now’s to get extra laps daily.”
“We did a bit of over 30 laps right now, a few of that are simply set up and issues like that, however we have to get an excellent run-in, get some mileage on and get a dependable bundle for race one.”
There have been a minimum of three pink flags within the morning session, with Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Audi’s Gabriel Bortleto believed to have stopped.
By way of distance coated, it was a busy day for Haas as Esteban Ocon accomplished 154 laps, essentially the most of any driver.
“Proper now we’re operating and each lap, each run we’re discovering challenges and issues to resolve. However that is why we’re right here, proper?” Haas crew principal Ayao Komatsu informed F1 TV.
“At the very least we’re transferring. So we’re amassing knowledge and figuring out issues that should be solved. It is nonetheless clearly early days, however I am very, very pleased with the beginning.”
Ferrari and McLaren are set to begin their respective 2026 F1 check applications on Tuesday.
