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Aston Martin finally debuts as Mercedes dominates Barcelona F1 shakedown day four!

James Taylor by James Taylor
January 29, 2026
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Aston Martin finally debuts as Mercedes dominates Barcelona F1 shakedown day four!

Aston Martin’s Long-Awaited Debut Shakes Up Barcelona F1 Shakedown as Mercedes Dominates the Track

The anticipation reached a fever pitch on the fourth day of the Barcelona Formula 1 shakedown, as Aston Martin finally unleashed its AMR26 onto the asphalt after a delayed debut. Meanwhile, Mercedes continued to cement its reputation for reliability and performance, leaving competitors in its dust.

After a stellar performance on Wednesday, with both Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell racking up over 90 laps, Mercedes was back at it again, focusing on fine-tuning its power unit modes through a mix of long runs and short bursts of speed. Russell clocked an unofficial best time of 1m16.6s, but the real story lies in Mercedes’ relentless pursuit of data accumulation and mileage—an area where the W17 has excelled. With the shakedown days now behind them, Mercedes heads into the next phase of testing with confidence, having amassed the most laps of any team. “We go [to Bahrain testing] with high confidence and high hopes because, definitely, it’s been good,” Antonelli stated, emphasizing the team’s readiness despite some early hiccups.

In stark contrast, the day was a long time coming for Aston Martin. After announcing its intention to delay the shakedown to ensure the AMR26 was up to scratch, the team finally made its track debut late Thursday. The car, designed by Adrian Newey and sporting an eye-catching sidepod and engine cover, managed to complete just five laps in a dramatic last-hour push. Lance Stroll was behind the wheel, but his session ended prematurely when he brought out a red flag just minutes before the session concluded. Formula 1 fans are eagerly anticipating Fernando Alonso’s turn in the Honda-powered machine on Friday, as the excitement ramps up for the final day of shakedown testing.

Meanwhile, McLaren faced a frustrating day as Oscar Piastri, taking over the MCL40 from defending world champion Lando Norris, was forced to retire early due to a fuel system issue. After completing 48 laps, Piastri expressed his eagerness to tackle the challenges presented by this year’s competitive grid, stating, “It was nice to be back out today, especially in the new car.” McLaren’s technical director for performance, Mark Temple, indicated the complexity of the car necessitated a thorough investigation to resolve the issue before Friday’s running.

Lewis Hamilton had a more productive outing, running an impressive 85 laps with the Ferrari SF-26 despite an early spin that highlighted the tricky conditions of the Catalan circuit. Meanwhile, Liam Lawson took to the track in the Racing Bulls VCARB 03, also nearing the end of their three-day allowance. Cadillac made a modest return to the shakedown with Sergio Perez behind the wheel.

As the day concluded, teams like Alpine, Audi, Haas, and Red Bull opted to sit out the Thursday session, with Red Bull reportedly flying in spare parts from Milton Keynes to address damage sustained during Isack Hadjar’s crash earlier in the week.

With tensions mounting and all eyes on the final day of the shakedown, the stage is set for an exhilarating conclusion in Barcelona. Will Aston Martin’s late entry shake the standings, or will Mercedes continue its dominance? The world of F1 is eagerly watching as the countdown to Bahrain testing begins!

Tags: 1958-formula-1-season2025-mclaren-f1-championshipandrea-kimi-antonelli-3Aston Martingeorge-russell-2getspeed-mercedesLance Stroll
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