Mercedes, which, despite not having a strong shot at the title in the previous season, was still a formidable contender, giving Red Bull and McLaren a run for their money. Though the team has been in a title drought since Lewis Hamilton last lifted the championship in 2020.
However, with the many changes in the upcoming season, things may very well change for Mercedes. The German automobile giant has already made quite a statement with its testing for the 2026 season at Barcelona.
Mercedes’ Fiery Run at Barcelona
During F1’s pre-season test at Barcelona, Mercedes-AMG joined the bandwagon earlier than the rest by taking its car out for testing. Following the green light, Kimi Antonelli took the wheel for Mercedes in the morning.
Though the test was a closed-door affair, the officials released some information, and the media outside the venue connected the dots.
ALSO READ: Why F1 Is Hiding Its 2026 Barcelona Test From the Public
Antonelli made the most of the team’s early start and ran the most laps in the very first hour itself. The 19-year-old ran twice as many laps as the following drivers on the list. The Italian even pushed the limits of his ride and was naturally topping the charts in terms of timing as well.
Alongside Mercedes, six other teams were in for the test on the very first days. As per the rules, teams can use three of the five days for testing their rides. After Antonelli, Gabriel Bortoleto of the new Audi Team, and Franco Colapinto of Alpine ran on the track for their sessions.
Rest of the Field on F1’s First Test Day
Red Bull, Haas, Racing Bulls, and Cadillac were also present for their testing on the opening day. On the other hand, two other giants, Ferrari and McLaren, will run on or after the second day of practice. Aston Martin will be one of the last teams to test their rides in the five-day window, while Williams has opted out of testing altogether.
It may be a private #F1 test – but information is trickling out.
Here’s what we know about the running so far ➡️ https://t.co/OAX87XiaqJhttps://t.co/OAX87XiaqJ
— The Race (@wearetherace) January 26, 2026
Apart from Mercedes, Haas and Audi also made the most of their time, running quite a few laps during the test. Mercedes had the most productive first day at Barcelona among the rest of the field and made a bold statement with the way Antonelli used the test run.
With Antonelli’s performance on the track, the team will undoubtedly have more input and feedback to better implement their technology, resources, and strategy for the upcoming season.
As in the previous season, though the fight for the title was tight between Red Bull and McLaren until the very last day, Mercedes remained a threat. Especially with George Russell, who bagged two wins and a handful of podiums. Now with a fiery start in the testing window, Mercedes may very well be on its way to dominating the grid in 2026.
