'Extreme' Red Bull clears first F1 hurdle as Mercedes and Ferrari assert control

Analysing the performance of the Barcelona shakedown is almost impossible owing to the usual variables of fuel loads and engine modes used to achieve their best times. 

If we look at the fastest four times recorded in Spain during the week, it is clear that the performance was very close, with 0.305s between Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc, with George Russell and Lando Norris sandwiched in between. 

Whilst it is worth noting the presence of two Ferraris in the top four, it is not overly relevant in assessing the actual performance of the car, with other factors outside the isolated lap times influencing performance, such as temperatures, grip from the track, and the tyre compounds. 

To get a slightly more accurate picture of the early pecking order, the laps completed by each team must be factored in, although the caveat of it not being indicative of pure performance should be noted.

Testing conclusions

The 502 and 435 laps completed by Mercedes and Ferrari, respectively, represent a solid benchmark, showing strong reliability with a test lacking in any major technical woes. It was certainly comforting for both teams to have completed their running so consistently and to show flashes of performance.

Mercedes came away in an upbeat mood, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli buoyed by their progress, whilst Ferrari was also content, especially when the comments of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are compared, with unanimous praise for the SF-26, whilst 12 months ago in Bahrain, opinions between the drivers diverged massively. 

Turning to the defending world champions McLaren, it seems clear that the MCL40 has very high potential, with Norris's time coming without any major effort, but otherwise, the running completed seemed to be in disguise. 

Prior to the test, McLaren had sent its car to AVL in Austria for extensive dyno running, which could have provided leads that the track tests only had to confirm, even through the use of non-extreme power unit modes and fuel levels, to conceal their significance from rivals.

Ergo, the MCL40 is a car which, from what emerged in Barcelona, was well born and, on paper, capable of fighting with Mercedes, with which it shares an engine.

The initial feedback of the Red Bull is that it is a car which could be a valuable tool in the hands of Max Verstappen, with a design which has interesting points of conceptual extremism. 

What was most striking about the RB22 was the reliability of the Red Bull Powertrains-Ford engine, which, although not pushed to the maximum, appeared to be less problematic than Audi's effort.

Audi faces a steep learning curve to optimise its power unit performance alongside the usual vehicle and aerodynamic aspects, which, to date, does not seem to have been the main target of the team, instead focusing on the challenge of mastering the tricky new engine formula.

Firmly in the midfield are Racing Bulls, Haas, and Alpine, three teams which completed a healthy number of laps, with no power unit reliability concerns from their respective RBPT, Ferrari, and Mercedes suppliers.

Of the three, it is Haas who emerges just in front, ahead of Racing Bulls and Alpine, despite Pierre Gasly's respectable eighth-fastest time overall. 

At the back are Audi and Cadillac, which focused mainly on establishing an understanding of the power unit modes and learning how to operate trackside. In short, Cadillac's week was largely an overall validation of the project.

Although Aston Martin did also make it out on track late on Thursday, it is impossible to rank the Adrian Newey-designed machine, owing to the limited running in which the AMR26 only completed a single full day on Friday.