“The Silver Arrows gave themselves a confidence boost ahead of the new season.”
Mercedes topped the timesheets on the third day of pre-season Formula 1 testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The team showed strong pace and consistency as it prepared for the 2026 season.
Kimi Antonelli set the fastest lap of the day, while George Russell finished just behind him. Mercedes was the only team to break into the 1:17s, highlighting their early speed. The team completed around 183 laps on the day, gathering valuable data on tyre performance, reliability, and new components.
McLaren made its first appearance of the week with Lando Norris, setting the third-fastest time. Alpine, Haas, Racing Bulls, and Audi also ran their programmes, while some major teams like Red Bull, Ferrari, and Williams planned to test on later days.
Overall, it was a productive day for Mercedes, giving the team a strong start to the pre-season testing and a boost of confidence ahead of the new F1 season.