With the Barcelona closed-door shakedown behind them, the first insights for the 2026 Formula 1 season are starting to emerge. However, these are preliminary analyses: lap times currently mean very little, as teams are still exploring cars built from scratch. The only meaningful metric at this stage is the number of laps completed, which gives a good indication of reliability and readiness ahead of the season start.
In Spain, the main goal for all teams was to check the new power units and collect data to guide their development. Looking at laps completed, Mercedes stood out as the most solid, completing 500 laps. This confirms that their power unit has started off well, reinforcing the rumors about the strength of the Silver Arrows’ project.
Ferrari gets off to a solid start
For Ferrari, there’s positive news too. The Italian team completed 437 laps with its official squad, gathering valuable reliability data and information to shape the car’s development. For now, this is an encouraging result, suggesting that Ferrari’s project has solid technical foundations, at least in terms of durability and preparation.
Encouraging signals also came from the drivers on track, especially Lewis Hamilton. Ending the session with the fastest lap, he offered a glimpse of promise—perhaps signaling a comeback after a very disappointing 2025 season. Leo Turrini discussed all of this in his blog “Profondo Rosso,” expressing hope for the seven-time world champion without commenting on the SF-26’s overall potential.
Turrini’s take
“The closed-door format is like a remake of the fabled Potemkin ship. In the age of social media, what’s the point of hiding things? It only fuels speculation. […] I’ll take a shot. Fastest lap: Lewis Hamilton. That hasn’t happened since Anchises fled Troy on Aeneas’ back. I can hope it’s true—not for the quality of the car, on which I won’t comment. […] It would be great if this result signals a recovery in motivation for Hamilton. In 2025, he seemed drained. Now, who knows. […] In terms of reliability, Ferrari and Mercedes are currently ahead. McLaren is taking it easy. Red Bull remains a question mark. Aston Martin too. […] At Audi, Mattia Binotto still has work to do.”
Leo Turrini’s characteristically sharp analysis of the 2026 Barcelona shakedown shifts the focus from raw lap times to the psychological and mechanical foundations of the new season. By highlighting Lewis Hamilton’s chart-topping performance as a potential spark for the Briton’s motivation, the Italian journalist suggests that a rejuvenated “Baronet” could be Ferrari’s greatest asset in a year defined by technical uncertainty. While Mercedes and Ferrari appear to have the early edge in the reliability war, Leo Turrini’s refusal to judge the SF-26’s ultimate pace reminds us that the journey from a successful shakedown to a championship-winning campaign is a long and unpredictable one.
Leo Turrini sees the high lap counts from Maranello as a positive sign of technical solidity, but he believes the true story of 2026 will depend on whether the Briton has truly found his drive again within the red cockpit.
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