Mercedes and Ferrari impress, Red Bull closes in: what stood out in the F1 test in Barcelona

Mercedes and Ferrari were the fastest, the new Red Bull Ford power unit is a positive surprise, and Audi and Cadillac ran into problems. There were plenty of notable takeaways after the first test in Barcelona—and GPblog is here to list them for you.

After five days, the private Formula 1 test near Barcelona is now complete. Although media and fans had no access to the circuit, plenty of information still emerged. The most striking aspect was the sheer speed and reliability of the new Mercedes. George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli encountered no issues at all and completed more laps than any of their competitors.

That said, Ferrari was faster on the final day. Conditions at the circuit were better than on the previous day, which may well have worked in Lewis Hamilton’s favor. Still, Ferrari also showed that it is in very good shape.

On the other hand, it is far too early to label Mercedes and Ferrari untouchable for the upcoming season. While everything went smoothly for both teams, it is impossible to draw solid comparisons with their rivals. Were the other teams running the same engine modes? What was the focus of their test programs? Which tyres were they using? How much fuel were they carrying?

Lando Norris - Photo: McLaren

Pecking order to be clearer in Bahrain

These are questions that will be easier to answer in Bahrain, where the test will be open to everyone and it will be easier to observe the teams more closely. Moreover, it is only in the Middle East that teams will start adding real performance to their cars. Only then will it become clear whether Mercedes stands above the rest or other teams can close the gap.

Don’t be surprised if Red Bull Racing manages to do just that. The new Red Bull Ford engine appears reliable and powerful at first glance. For a new manufacturer in the sport, that is quite an achievement—especially when compared to Audi. The German team suffered several issues during the test, although it is not entirely clear to what extent those were related to the power unit.

It is also worth keeping in mind that both Mercedes and Red Bull Racing are rumored to have a 'trick' in their power units that allows the compression ratio to be increased, generating extra performance. Were the first days in Barcelona a sign that this has really given them an advantage? Or did Ferrari's performance on the final day show that the gap is smaller than expected?

Cadillac has ground to make up

Aston Martin and Cadillac were teams with more issues. Aston Martin, for reasons that are still unclear, started the test late, while Cadillac was at a different stage of development than the other ten teams. For the Americans, this is the first real F1 test ever, so it’s mainly about learning to understand the car and the sport. Running into a fair number of problems comes as no surprise.

In recent months, there were concerns that the new generation of Formula 1 cars wouldn’t be as fast as last year’s. Barcelona made it clear there’s no need to worry about that. Even during the first week of testing, when teams were still using very basic cars, lap times were quicker than at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix on the same circuit. It’s reasonable to assume the cars will get faster and faster in the coming weeks.

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