Shakedown Begins with a Bang in Barcelona

 

The Secret Shakedown: 2026 Begins with a Bang in Barcelona

In Barcelona, seven of the grid's eleven teams officially kicked off the most significant era in Formula 1® history, and I, for one, am excited, and I really can't call what is going to happen in Australia in March. 

While the gates were closed to the media, the data doesn't lie: Red Bull and Haas have hit the ground running, while Williams and Aston Martin keep the world waiting.

It all seems more personal, General Motors fighting with Cadillac, German car companies fighting with each other, and the supercar brands of Ferrari, Aston Martin Vs Mclaren all looking to prove that their automotive cars are the best, and F1 is the platform they all fight on, it's going to be an exciting season.

Red Bull's Historic Milestone

The biggest story of Day 1 is the Red Bull-Ford Powertrains unit. For the first time, Red Bull is running an in-house-built engine, a statement of intent. Rookie sensation Isack Hadjar reportedly set the pace in the RB22, completing over 100 laps. 

To have a brand-new engine manufacturer show that kind of reliability and immediate speed on Day 1 is nothing short of incredible.

The Haas Marathon: Ocon's 154 Laps

While Red Bull took the headlines for speed, Haas took the trophy for endurance. 

Esteban Ocon racked up a staggering 154 laps in the new VF-26. That is more than two full race distances on the opening day of a brand-new regulation cycle. It proves that the Ferrari power unit is robust, and the "slimmed-down" Haas chassis is a workhorse. For a team that struggled with reliability in the past, this is a dream start.

The Alpine-Mercedes Partnership

Alpine's transition to Mercedes power is already paying dividends. 

Franco Colapinto secured the third-fastest time of the day in the A526. Despite a minor sensor issue that triggered a red flag, completing 60 laps and showing genuine pace suggests that the Enstone team may have finally found the "zip" they were missing with the old Renault units.

The Absentees and the Newey Wait

• Williams: Their absence due to delays is a blow, as every kilometre in this new era is worth its weight in gold.
• Aston Martin: The paddock is holding its breath for Thursday and Friday, when the first Adrian Newey-designed Aston Martin will finally break cover.
• Cadillac: The all-American "Stealth Bomber" completed its first official laps as a full team member, adding a new layer of intrigue to the grid.

Reliability was the goal, but we've already seen flashes of performance that suggest the pecking order is about to be turned upside down.

And as always, when the lights go out and the drama unfolds, here at Senate Grand Prix, there is only one winner, and that's you, the race fans!

Call one of our Expert Agents today! UK: 🇬🇧 +44 1342 830 490 USA: 🇺🇸 +1 877 242 5176