Isack Hadjar admitted his shock at Pink Bull’s “productive” and “smooth” efficiency after topping the timesheet on the first day of System 1 pre-season testing in Barcelona.
Whereas lap occasions weren’t thought of overly necessary as groups ran their all-new 2026 vehicles – following modifications to each energy unit and chassis laws – collectively for the primary time, there had been doubts over how Pink Bull would fare as they launched into a primary marketing campaign producing their very own engine.
Hadjar, who has been promoted to drive alongside Max Verstappen after impressing for Racing Bulls in his rookie marketing campaign, set a time of 1:18.159s to complete the day simply over half a second away from Mercedes’ George Russell.
Equally, if no more, spectacular than Hadjar’s main time was the 107 laps the Frenchman was capable of amass, with Liam Lawson including an additional 88 for Racing Bulls, the one different crew on the grid utilizing Pink Bull’s first F1 energy unit.
Hadjar mentioned: “It was fairly productive, surprisingly. We managed to do much more laps than we anticipated.
“Everything went pretty smooth. We had like only minor issues, so it’s quite impressive considering it’s our first day with our own engine. It was definitely smooth.”
Requested particularly in regards to the efficiency of the facility unit, Hadjar added: “Actually, it is fairly first rate for our first day.
“It doesn’t feel too far off what I’m used to, at least in my first season, on all of the upshifts, downshifts. That was ok. There’s still a few things to tweak around, but it’s solid.”
Barcelona pre-season testing – day one timesheet
Russell impressed by Pink Bull
Whereas Mercedes continued their robust begin to the yr as Kimi Antonelli and Russell mixed for 149 laps on Monday, the Briton admitted he was impressed by Pink Bull’s efficiency.
Mercedes managed an ominously giant whole of 67 laps at a filming day at Silverstone final week, which prompt they’re very effectively ready for a season many see them as favourites for, and maintained that solidity regardless of being outpaced by Pink Bull in Barcelona.
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George Russell was impressed with the extent of the vehicles the groups delivered to the monitor in Barcelona
“We’re very pleased with the day but I was pretty impressed with a number of other teams, to be honest,” mentioned Russell, having taken over from Antonelli for Monday’s afternoon session.
“The Red Bull-powered teams, brand-new power unit, and they’re a brand-new team from a power-unit side, and they had a really smooth day with two cars. Audi had some good laps in there as well. Haas did the most laps of everyone with a Ferrari engine.”
Russell appeared to recommend there’s unlikely to be a repeat of the final time brand-new engines have been launched in 2014, when Mercedes went on to win eight successive constructors’ titles after having been effectively forward of the remainder of the sphere on the first testing occasions for that period.
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Kimi Antonelli, Esteban Ocon and Valtteri Bottas share their first ideas on the brand new 2026 vehicles following the primary day of the shakedown in Barcelona
He added: “It’s not quite 2014 vibes of half the grid breaking down and having loads of issues. I think Formula 1 has evolved so much since then and the level is just so high in every single aspect.
“It was fairly spectacular to see all of the groups on the entire having plenty of laps below their belt on day one.”
Antonelli: Mercedes very nice to drive
Antonelli gave a favourable review of the Mercedes W17 as he prepares for his second season with the team.
“It was a really attention-grabbing morning, very good to be again within the automotive,” Antonelli said.
“It is a huge studying. We have been attempting to tune the facility unit and the automotive, and clearly this afternoon the automotive has improved quite a bit, and it is a fixed studying.
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Antonelli gave his ideas on the brand new Mercedes package deal after his first-day shakedown in Barcelona
“The car is nice. It’s very nice to drive and obviously on the power-unit side it’s a bit different to what we had last year, it requires a bit more management but it’s all doable.
“On the power-unit aspect, the crew did a very good job and driveability, which was a giant query mark, appears to be good thus far.
“Obviously, it’s early days, and that’s why with the running we will discover a lot more about the car and the power unit and we’ll be able to see where it’s lacking or where it’s actually good, but so far, the package is feeling good.”
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