Isack Hadjar emerged as the fastest driver on the opening day of the Barcelona F1 pre-season test, outpacing George Russell and Franco Colapinto. A total of seven teams participated in the test at the Circuit de Catalunya, with nine drivers hitting the track for the first day of action.
The Barcelona pre-season F1 test took place without on-site media presence, with Aston Martin and Williams opting out of Day 1. Aston Martin confirmed their participation on Thursday and Friday, while Williams decided not to partake in the test at all. Ferrari is set to begin running on Tuesday, while McLaren is expected to join either on Tuesday or Wednesday. The only interruption of the day came from Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto.
Hadjar stole the show by completing 107 laps and setting the fastest time of the day at 1 minute 18.519 seconds. Russell followed closely in second place, covering 93 laps and posting a best time of 1 minute 18.696 seconds. Colapinto secured the third spot with a lap time of 1 minute 20.189 seconds. The gap between Red Bull and Mercedes was just under half a second, with Alpine trailing by over two seconds.
Kimi Antonelli clocked the fourth-fastest time of the day at 1 minute 20.700 seconds, completing 56 laps. The Mercedes drivers put in a combined total of 149 laps. Haas had a productive day, with Esteban Ocon finishing fifth after completing 154 laps and setting a best time of 1 minute 21.301 seconds.
Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson took the sixth position, logging 88 laps and recording a fastest lap of 1 minute 21.513 seconds. Valtteri Bottas settled for seventh for the Cadillac F1 team, managing 33 laps with a best time of 1 minute 24.651 seconds. Bortoleto ended the day in eighth place with a time of 1 minute 25.296 seconds, completing just 27 laps after his earlier stoppage. Sergio Perez rounded out the order in ninth, posting a time of 1 minute 25.974 seconds and completing only 11 laps. The two Cadillac drivers collectively covered 44 laps on the first day.
In terms of what the opening day of the Barcelona F1 pre-season test reveals about the teams, it’s important to note that lap times may not accurately reflect outright performance due to varying programs, fuel loads, and engine modes. However, mileage serves as a more reliable indicator of early engine reliability.
Mercedes appeared to have a smooth day with both drivers completing a total of 149 laps, followed closely by Red Bull Racing with Hadjar completing 107 laps. Both teams showed promising reliability from their cars and engines. Haas had a solid run with Esteban Ocon racking up 154 laps, while Cadillac struggled to achieve significant mileage. With Ferrari, McLaren, Aston Martin, and Williams yet to participate, it’s premature to determine the pecking order.
Overall, the first test is primarily for acclimatization, with subsequent tests focusing on engine and chassis integration. Teams are navigating the new regulations and approaching their programs differently. The quest for both performance and reliability will evolve throughout the season as development progresses.
