Drivers reported their new vehicles for the 2026 Formulation 1 season really feel very totally different after the primary day of testing on the Circuit de Catalunya.
Seven groups joined the monitor because the five-day take a look at started on Monday. F1 formally refers back to the take a look at as a “shakedown”, although most groups performed shakedown runs of their new vehicles in filming days previous to this week’s working.
Pre-season testing has begun earlier and can last more than normal this 12 months as groups familiarize yourself with the primary vehicles they’ve designed for F1’s new guidelines. These embrace overhauled energy models, simplified under-body aerodynamics and moveable entrance and rear wings.
Valtteri Bottas, who’s returning to F1 with Cadillac this 12 months, mentioned there may be “undoubtedly a giant distinction to earlier than.”
“The vehicles deal with totally different, you have got a bit much less load particularly within the high-speed corners,” he instructed the official F1 channel. With the PU [power unit], you have got a lot extra torque out of the corners, however then you have got the battery to handle.”
The earlier technology of vehicles relied closely on formed flooring to supply a ‘floor impact’ and generate extra downforce. Nonetheless drivers typically complained this created unpredictability within the vehicles’ dealing with.
New Crimson Bull driver Isack Hadjar mentioned this trait within the vehicles’ dealing with has improved.
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“There’s undoubtedly rather a lot much less load usually,” he mentioned, “and it’s a bit extra predictable in comparison with the earlier technology of vehicles. They’re extra easy, it’s simpler to mess around with them.
“Additionally on the PU facet there’s much more choices for the motive force to play with. I already began to work on it in the present day in order that was very fascinating.”
Mercedes break up their first day of working between George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Russell mentioned he was impressed by the straight-line efficiency of the brand new vehicles.
“The quantity of energy they provide is fairly spectacular,” he mentioned. “For all of the vehicles I used to be watching in the present day with all of the totally different energy models, it’s in all probability the quickest I’ve ever seen an F1 automotive move right here in Barcelona, in order that was fairly thrilling to see.”
The brand new guidelines have additionally lowered the scale of the vehicles and specified a decrease minimal weight restrict. “The vehicles do usually really feel such as you really feel it being smaller,” mentioned Russell. “You may really feel that weight discount in comparison with earlier years. So I believe from that facet as effectively, it’s gone in a superb course.”
Footage from day one in all testing
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