First taste of F1’s 2026 cars: big changes, early verdicts mix

Around half the F1 grid tested the new 2026 cars at Barcelona, with seven teams on track and no official lap times; drivers described a radical shift in aerodynamics and power units toward more electric power, noting driving the cars is different and at times complex, though Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli praised their drivability. Esteban Ocon warned of a very complicated cockpit workload, while early pace was unofficially led by Isack Hadjar for Red Bull; the test emphasises reliability as teams adapt ahead of further running with McLaren and Ferrari joining.