Red Bull's Red Flag Lifting as Team Seals Strong Performance in Barcelona Shakedown
Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar expressed surprise at the team's productive and smooth performance at the first day of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Barcelona. The young driver topped the timesheet with a time of 1:18.159s, finishing just over half a second clear of Mercedes' George Russell.
Hadjar attributed the success to having "only minor issues" throughout the day, praising the team's work on their brand-new engine. He stated that the car felt smooth and was an improvement on what he experienced in his rookie season. The driver also highlighted the reliability of the new power unit, saying it was a major step forward.
Russell echoed Hadjar's sentiments, expressing admiration for Red Bull's performance, particularly with two cars running effectively. Mercedes had previously set high expectations for their 2026 car, but Russell noted that they weren't the only team to deliver strong results. The Briton suggested that the level of competition has increased significantly since the last time new engines were introduced in 2014.
Kimi Antonelli gave a glowing review of his first day with Mercedes, praising the new package and the team's work on improving driveability. He noted that while there are still things to tweak, the car feels good to drive and is an improvement over last season.
As the teams continue to fine-tune their cars for the upcoming season, these results demonstrate a promising start for Red Bull and Mercedes. The level of competition has never been higher in F1, with several top teams showing impressive performances on the first day of testing.
Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar expressed surprise at the team's productive and smooth performance at the first day of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Barcelona. The young driver topped the timesheet with a time of 1:18.159s, finishing just over half a second clear of Mercedes' George Russell.
Hadjar attributed the success to having "only minor issues" throughout the day, praising the team's work on their brand-new engine. He stated that the car felt smooth and was an improvement on what he experienced in his rookie season. The driver also highlighted the reliability of the new power unit, saying it was a major step forward.
Russell echoed Hadjar's sentiments, expressing admiration for Red Bull's performance, particularly with two cars running effectively. Mercedes had previously set high expectations for their 2026 car, but Russell noted that they weren't the only team to deliver strong results. The Briton suggested that the level of competition has increased significantly since the last time new engines were introduced in 2014.
Kimi Antonelli gave a glowing review of his first day with Mercedes, praising the new package and the team's work on improving driveability. He noted that while there are still things to tweak, the car feels good to drive and is an improvement over last season.
As the teams continue to fine-tune their cars for the upcoming season, these results demonstrate a promising start for Red Bull and Mercedes. The level of competition has never been higher in F1, with several top teams showing impressive performances on the first day of testing.
Red Bull is really stepping up their game this season, it's gonna be a tough one for all the other teams to keep up with Isack Hadjar's speed 
. And yeah, Mercedes is giving them some serious competition too, George Russell is looking fierce 
. The new engine tech is clearly making a big difference, I'm curious to see how this season unfolds 
. One thing's for sure though, it's gonna be an epic battle on the track 
!
1:18.159s is crazy fast lol. Hadjar said the engine was a major step forward, and now that's being reflected in his timesheet 
. It'll be interesting to see if Mercedes can keep up with Red Bull's performance throughout the season. 
I also love how Kimi's first day with Mercedes went so smoothly - it's clear they're pushing hard for improvement 
! hadjar's surprise at their team's smooth performance makes total sense to me - those new engines are definitely making a difference 
. lets just say, can't wait for the real racing to start! 
. And George Russell giving props to his teammate... that's what team sports are all about 
. It's crazy to think the competition is going to be super intense this year 
. Can't wait to see more of these results and how everything shakes out in the end 
. George Russell saying that the level of competition has increased since 2014? That's like saying the sky is blue because, well, it's blue 
.
Those engines were like dinosaurs compared to what we've got now. It's awesome to see Red Bull and Mercedes going head-to-head again, but you're right, the competition level is insane this year. Reminds me of when I used to watch qualifying and it was always such a nail-biter who'd come out on top 
! I mean, we've got a brand new engine from Red Bull and it's only half a second off the leader? That's not exactly mind-blowing. And don't even get me started on Mercedes thinking they're all of a sudden a threat after a single day of testing. 
They need to step up their game if they want to compete with Red Bull.
. It's great to see so many top teams performing well, the competition is getting fiercer by the minute 
. Red Flag might be lifting for these guys, and it's anyone's game for the 2026 season 
!
i was watching live and hadjar's lap time was insane! 1:18 something? that's unheard of for a rookie driver, especially with a new engine 
but what i find really interesting is how both teams are getting there so quickly after the last engine change... that says a lot for the tech and innovation in f1 right now 
meanwhile mercedes arent complaining either 
. I mean, who needs actual racing when you can just talk about your new toys? Red Bull's been smooth sailing, Mercedes is giving them a run for their money, and Kimi's got some sweet drives under his belt 
. And hey, who needs a Formula 1 car when you've got a really good coffee 
️?
The level of competition in F1 is getting more intense by the minute and i am HERE FOR IT!!! 
