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Thrilling Start to F1 2026: Red Bull’s Hadjar Tops Unofficial Times in Chilly Barcelona Morning Session

 

Barcelona, Spain – The 2026 Formula 1 season roared to life on Monday morning at the iconic Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, as seven teams took to the track for the opening session of pre-season shakedown testing. Under cold and damp conditions, with air temperatures hovering around 8°C, the focus was squarely on reliability, data collection, and shaking down the all-new cars designed under the revolutionary 2026 regulations. These regs introduce lighter, more agile chassis, simplified aerodynamics, and overhauled power units emphasizing sustainable fuels and increased electrical power – a seismic shift aimed at closer racing and environmental responsibility.<grok:render card_id=”6a4b18″ card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>

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</grok:render> While official pre-season testing is slated for Bahrain next month, this private five-day event in Barcelona serves as a crucial initial outing, allowing teams to iron out kinks before the public eye turns to them.<grok:render card_id=”873f35″ card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>

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The morning session, running from 9:00 to around midday local time (CET), saw a mix of installation laps, longer runs, and tentative performance pushes. However, the tricky weather – including light drizzle early on – meant times were far from representative of true pace. Unofficial lap times, leaked through various channels despite the closed-doors nature of the event, painted a picture of Red Bull’s dominance in the early going. French-Algerian rookie Isack Hadjar, stepping in for the Milton Keynes squad, set the benchmark with a blistering 1:18.835 on his 44th lap, showcasing the potential of the RB22 despite the conditions.<grok:render card_id=”f4b6b5″ card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>

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</grok:render> Hadjar’s time was over a second clear of the field, underlining Red Bull’s strong start amid rumors of advanced active aero integration in their new design.

 

Hot on Hadjar’s heels was Mercedes’ young sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who clocked a 1:20.700 after an impressive 56 laps in the W17 – the most completed by any driver in the morning.<grok:render card_id=”a85e08″ card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>

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</grok:render> The Italian teenager, fresh from his F2 title, demonstrated composure in the slippery conditions, with Mercedes focusing on aero correlation and power unit mapping. Antonelli’s performance comes as no surprise, given the team’s emphasis on youth development following Lewis Hamilton’s retirement and George Russell’s move to a mentorship role for the afternoon session.<grok:render card_id=”4a6762″ card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>

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Alpine’s Franco Colapinto secured third with a 1:21.348 over 28 laps, but his morning was marred by an engine glitch that triggered the first red flag of the day.<grok:render card_id=”e1ca5a” card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>

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</grok:render> The Argentine, piloting the Mercedes-powered A526, highlighted the car’s innovative front wing – featuring a unique strake for better front-wheel airflow management and a raised outboard section for enhanced vortex generation.<grok:render card_id=”eb20fc” card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>

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</grok:render> Despite the stoppage, team sources described it as “nothing serious,” allowing Colapinto to resume and gather valuable data on the pull-rod suspension setup.

 

Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson followed in fourth with a 1:21.864 across 42 laps, but his session ended prematurely when an anti-stall issue during a practice start caused the third red flag.<grok:render card_id=”1d7e2a” card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>

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</grok:render> The New Zealander, eyeing a potential promotion within the Red Bull family, emphasized mileage over speed, with the VCARB-03 showing promising handling in the damp.

 

Further back, Haas’ Esteban Ocon prioritized endurance, racking up a session-high 67 laps with a best of 1:24.520.<grok:render card_id=”729749″ card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>

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</grok:render> Team principal Ayao Komatsu was effusive in his praise: “To do 67 laps on Day 1 morning was really, really good. Now we can start looking a bit more into details… we are discovering issues, problems we need to solve, every lap, every run. But that’s what we are here for.”<grok:render card_id=”192853″ card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>

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</grok:render> Haas, powered by Ferrari, led the Ferrari-engined contingent in laps, signaling reliability for the Prancing Horse’s new unit.<grok:render card_id=”95964e” card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>

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Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas, in the American newcomer’s debut outing, managed 33 laps with a 1:24.651, focusing on installation runs and building a reliable package.<grok:render card_id=”bfe51e” card_type=”citation_card” type=”render_inline_citation”>

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</grok:render> The Finn, a veteran of the grid, noted: “Priority list now is get more laps each day… we need to get some proper running in, get the mileage in, and make sure we get a reliable package for race one.”

Cadillac’s entry, backed by General Motors, brings fresh excitement with their in-house power unit.

 

Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto rounded out the timesheets with a 1:25.296 over 27 laps, but not without drama – running wide at Turn 10 caused the second red flag.

 

The Brazilian rookie, in the R26, faced early teething issues, but the team viewed it as a minor setback in their ambitious rebranding from Sauber.

 

Notably absent from the action were McLaren, Ferrari, Williams, and Aston Martin. McLaren boss Andrea Stella explained their decision to skip Monday, prioritizing additional development time for the MCL40.

Ferrari plans to join tomorrow, while Williams has opted out entirely, and Aston Martin – delayed by development pushes – aims for a Thursday debut.

This staggered approach reflects the massive regulatory overhaul, with teams like Red Bull and Mercedes stealing an early march.

 

The session wasn’t without its cloak-and-dagger elements. Security was ramped up after “spy shots” of cars leaked online, highlighting the intense secrecy surrounding these new machines. Sky Sports F1 expert Bernie Collins noted the shakedown’s importance: “This is about learning the basics – does the car start, stop, and turn? Performance comes

 

As the afternoon session commenced with driver swaps – including Russell for Antonelli at Mercedes – the morning provided a tantalizing glimpse into 2026. With active aerodynamics, reduced downforce, and bio-fuelled engines promising more overtaking, fans are eager for Bahrain’s official tests. But for now, Red Bull’s Hadjar has set the early tone, hinting at another dominant campaign for the reigning champions. The grid’s pecking order remains fluid, but Barcelona’s cold dawn has ignited the fire for what could be F1’s most transformative season yet.

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