The five-day Formula 1 pre-season test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya wrapped up on Friday, offering teams a valuable early glimpse into the 2026 campaign, even without clear indications of outright pace. While lap times remained secondary, the distance covered by each driver emerged as a key talking point, helping to establish a preliminary pecking order ahead of the upcoming session in Bahrain.
George Russell Sets the Benchmark with Highest Lap Count
George Russell was the most active driver throughout the Barcelona test, showcasing remarkable endurance and consistency. The Mercedes driver finished the three-day stint with an impressive 265 laps, topping the individual mileage charts. His extensive run time underscored Mercedes' strong focus on reliability and comprehensive data collection during this initial phase of the 2026 season.
Driver Lap Counts from Barcelona Test
- George Russell: 265 laps
- Esteban Ocon: 239 laps
- Kimi Antonelli: 237 laps
- Charles Leclerc: 231 laps
- Pierre Gasly: 227 laps
- Lewis Hamilton: 204 laps
- Arvid Lindblad: 167 laps
- Lando Norris: 159 laps
Russell was closely followed by Esteban Ocon, while rookie Kimi Antonelli secured third place overall, completing 237 laps in the second Mercedes car. Ferrari drivers also made their presence felt, with Charles Leclerc logging 231 laps and Lewis Hamilton managing 204 laps. Pierre Gasly broke into the Ferrari-dominated list, clocking 227 laps with Alpine, reinforcing early hints of the high reliability of Mercedes-powered vehicles on the grid.
Mercedes and Ferrari Dominate Team Mileage Totals
On the team front, Mercedes emerged as the most efficient outfit during the five-day test, accumulating a total of five hundred laps. Ferrari followed closely with 437 laps, while Haas secured the third spot with 391 laps, rounding out the top three in total mileage. Alpine completed 349 laps, leading over Racing Bulls at 318 and Red Bull at 303.
Team Lap Totals from Barcelona Test
- Mercedes: 500 laps
- Ferrari: 437 laps
- Haas: 391 laps
- Alpine: 349 laps
- Racing Bulls: 318 laps
- Red Bull: 303 laps
- McLaren: 288 laps
- Audi: 243 laps
- Cadillac: 164 laps
Further down the order, McLaren completed 288 laps, Audi achieved 243, and Cadillac managed 164 laps. Aston Martin spent minimal time on the track, recording only 65 miles, while Williams did not register any mileage during the Barcelona test.
Throughout the event, teams placed significant emphasis on reliability checks and system evaluations, utilizing the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya to test their new packages under severe loads. This approach allowed them to gather crucial data without the pressure of competitive lap times, setting the stage for more intensive sessions in Bahrain.
