BREAKING: Mercedes Monster Unleashed: George Russell Smashes Barrier as W17 Blows Away R… Read more
Mercedes Monster Unleashed: George Russell Smashes 1:16s Barrier as W17 Blows 2026 Rivals Away
The 2026 Formula 1 pre-season testing kicked off with a dramatic statement from **Mercedes** on the fourth and final day of the Barcelona shakedown for several teams, as **George Russell** set the fastest unofficial lap time of the week, underlining the Silver Arrows’ apparent dominance under the radical new regulations.
On Thursday, January 29, at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Russell took over the W17 in the afternoon session and dipped into the 1:16s for the first time during the shakedown, clocking an impressive 1:16.445. This eclipsed the morning benchmark set by his teammate **Kimi Antonelli**, who posted a 1:17.081 while completing an outstanding 90 laps. Russell added another 77-78 laps (reports vary slightly across sources) to the tally, bringing Mercedes’ total mileage over their three permitted days to an exceptional figure—reportedly around 388 laps by Thursday lunchtime, far surpassing any rival in reliability and data gathering.
Antonelli, the young Italian talent in his early outings with the team, expressed satisfaction with the progress. “I think it was a pretty good shakedown. We did a lot of laps, 90 today, so really good mileage for the team,” he said. “I’m happy because I’ve been learning quite a lot about the car… We kept it very similar to yesterday because the main goal was still to do long running… Today was a bit more focused on soft tyres, also long running with soft tyres, just to see how the car was responding and especially how the power unit was responding with the high speed into the corners. It was very interesting.”
Mercedes’ strong showing comes amid hype that has surrounded the team since day one of the test. The W17 has demonstrated bulletproof reliability, allowing both drivers to focus on understanding the new power unit behavior—including battery modes, boost, overtake, and recharge systems—while racking up crucial mileage. Paddock observers note that Mercedes was widely tipped to adapt quickly to the 2026 rules overhaul, which features lighter, more agile cars, active aerodynamics, major power unit changes (with increased electrical power and sustainable fuels), and redesigned chassis for better racing.
While lap times remain unofficial and largely irrelevant at this stage—teams prioritize long runs, systems checks, and data over outright pace—the gap Mercedes showed was notable. Russell’s 1:16.445 stood as the week’s quickest, with Antonelli close behind in second. Other reported top times included **Charles Leclerc** (Ferrari) at 1:18.223, **Oscar Piastri** (McLaren) at 1:18.419, and further back runners like **Lewis Hamilton** in the Ferrari SF-26.
Hamilton, now in red after his high-profile switch from Mercedes, enjoyed a productive morning with 85-87 laps despite an early spin. “When you come to the test, you always want to get a lot of mileage. Today, I did 85 laps in the morning, which is amazing,” he commented. “That’s really down to all the people in the factory who have done such a great job to make sure that the car, so far, is really reliable. Last year we had a worse start to testing… considering this is a completely new band of rules, it’s better than we’ve experienced in the past, so I’m really hopeful that continues.”
**Ferrari** showed solid running overall, with extensive laps and positive early signs on reliability for the new era.
Elsewhere, the day brought mixed fortunes. **Aston Martin** finally debuted the AMR26 after delays, with **Lance Stroll** hitting the track in the final 45 minutes—a long-awaited first glimpse for the Adrian Newey-led squad. **McLaren** saw **Oscar Piastri**’s running curtailed in the afternoon due to a fuel system issue, limiting their progress after **Lando Norris** had driven on previous days. Neither McLaren driver has approached Mercedes’ pace or mileage.
Red Bull and Max Verstappen faced continued frustration, sitting out Thursday entirely. Damage from Isack Hadjar’s crash earlier in the week kept the RB22 sidelined, with the team awaiting parts from Milton Keynes. Verstappen has managed only 27 laps so far—all in wet conditions—making Friday’s running vital for catching up.
Other teams like Alpine, Haas, Audi, and Cadillac (the new entrant) had varying levels of activity, with some completing solid programs while others dealt with teething issues typical of such a transformative rules reset.
Thursday marked the end of Barcelona running for Mercedes and Racing Bulls (who also showed good mileage). Several squads—including McLaren, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Red Bull, and others—have the option to continue on Friday, weather and reliability permitting, before the action shifts to official pre-season tests in Bahrain next month.
As the dust settles on this secretive, behind-closed-doors shakedown, Mercedes emerges as the early benchmark. Their combination of blistering pace, massive lap counts, and driver positivity sends a clear message: the Silver Arrows may have unlocked the 2026 formula quickest. However, with two more test sessions ahead and the season opener looming, rivals will be eager to close the gap.
The new regulations promise closer racing, more overtakes, and a sustainability focus, but Mercedes’ “monster” W17 has set the tone. Fans can expect fireworks when the lights go out for real in 2026.
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