Formula 1 News: Hamilton’s Ferrari tops final day of Barcelona preseason testing

Lewis Hamilton produced the fastest lap time for Ferrari as F1 2026’s first week of testing drew to a close in Barcelona. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya shimmered under the Spanish sun as the fifth and final day of the secretive 2026 Formula 1 pre-season testing unfolded.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

This marked the end of a pivotal week, where teams grappled with the new regulations—sustainable fuels, active aerodynamics, and revamped power units—honing their machines in relative privacy before the season’s roar. Twelve drivers hit the track, representing a mix of veterans and rookies, as teams squeezed every last datum from their allotted sessions.

The morning session kicked off with a familiar red streak: Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari SF-26, pounding out laps with surgical precision. Clocking a 1m16.653s on soft tires, the Monegasque driver set an early benchmark, hinting at the Scuderia’s formidable pace. But Ferrari wasn’t done flexing. As the lunch break approached, teams shuffled their lineups—Lando Norris hopped into the McLaren MCL40 for Oscar Piastri, Nico Hulkenberg took over Audi duties from rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, and Esteban Ocon relieved Oliver Bearman at Haas. Most notably, Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion now clad in Ferrari red, slid into the SF-26 cockpit, ready to make his mark after a rain-disrupted debut earlier in the week.

As the afternoon heat intensified, the track came alive with a flurry of activity. Red Bull, absent on Day 4 while awaiting parts after Isack Hadjar’s heavy shunt earlier in the test, roared back with Max Verstappen at the wheel. The Dutchman, ever the mileage machine, racked up an impressive 118 laps despite a minor off-track excursion at Turn 10 in the morning. His best effort? A solid 1m17.586s, placing him fifth but underscoring Red Bull’s focus on reliability over outright speed. Meanwhile, Pierre Gasly turned heads for Alpine, logging a staggering 160 laps—the most of any driver—while posting a 1m17.707s for sixth.

“It has been nice to be back on track this week, the first morning I had in the car I couldn’t do too many laps because of the weather but Friday was good,” said Verstappen.

“We did a lot of laps today and that was really the key, we learned a lot and there are, of course, still a lot of things that we want to look into but it’s a good star. So much work has gone into this powerunit over the last few years and to see it then go into the car and on the first day, immediately do so many laps was great to see. There were a lot of emotional faces in the garage and that was very special. Everything is still a work in progress but we have hit the ground running quite well.

“We need time to understand the engine and make set up changes, you try to put as many laps on the board and try as many things as you can in the day. I think we are doing that and this is what this Shakedown was about and what we will continue to do. It is a complicated formula for everyone to get right, which means there is still a lot of work to do before we head to Bahrain. We will go again there and keep the work going.”

“I must take the opportunity to say a huge thank you and well done to everybody back in Milton Keynes on both the chassis and PU side, because it was a historical moment to see the car out there,” said Red Bull CEO and Team Principal, Laurent Mekies

“We knew it would be a very special moment to be here for the first time with RB22 with our own PU, so on Monday there was a special atmosphere in the garage. The last few months and weeks have been incredibly hectic to be ready for this Shakedown, but ultimately, we were there waiting to roll out of the garage at 9am. So, I must take the opportunity to say a huge thank you and well done to everybody back in Milton Keynes on both the chassis and PU side, because it was a historical moment to see the car out there. We got more than a hundred laps in on Monday with Isack, which was a positive day and then Tuesday was a bit more difficult for us. Max ran in the morning and only got one long run in before the rain came, but we felt it would be good learning and interesting to run in the wet with this new generation of cars.

“We switched to Isack in the afternoon and there was no chance for dry tires, but we got some good data in the wet. He went off at the end of the day, in what were very tricky conditions and with a lot of things still to get right on the car side. It was unfortunate, but these things happen and it came after a very positive day on Monday for him. The number of laps Isack completed and the development and learning he and the Team gained cannot be underestimated.

“It was an incredible job by the Team trackside and back on Campus to get RB22 back on track for Friday, there have been some long nights to ensure we got a third day of running. Max was in the car all day and he too got over 100 laps on the clock, giving insightful and beyond valuable feedback, as we continue to learn about this new car and PU. We have a lot to take away from this week and Max’s experience and detail with engineering will help us shape the preparations for Bahrain and beyond.

“In terms of what we were expecting from the powerunit in these first three days, I can only stress how proud we are of everyone back at base who delivered us this PU. Ford were here trackside to see everything come to life and it’s a big thanks to them for their part and support in this special story. Of course, it is very early days and nothing is perfect but we have started to learn already and work as one Team on this. It was a great satisfaction, but it doesn’t change the magnitude of the journey ahead of us. We know we have to do our homework and take things step by step.”

But the real drama unfolded in the final hour. With teams dialing in soft-tire qualifying simulations, Norris briefly seized the spotlight, unleashing a blistering 1m16.594s in the McLaren to claim provisional top honors. The Brit’s lap was a statement: McLaren’s MCL40, with its sleek aero and potent power unit, was no slouch. Yet, as the clock ticked down, Hamilton emerged from the Ferrari garage like a predator on the prowl. In the dying minutes, he pieced together a flawless lap—a searing 1m16.348s—that shattered the week’s unofficial record set by Mercedes’ George Russell on Thursday. It was 0.097 seconds quicker than Russell’s mark and a full 0.246 seconds ahead of Norris, sending shockwaves through the paddock. Hamilton, reflecting on Ferrari’s turnaround from a lackluster 2025, hinted at even better times to come, praising the car’s reliability and untapped potential.

Further down the order, Haas split duties between Ocon (1m18.393, seventh) and Bearman (1m18.423, eighth), gathering crucial data for their new partnership. Audi, still finding its feet, saw Hulkenberg and Bortoleto round out the top 10 with 1m19.870 and 1m20.179, respectively. Fernando Alonso made a low-key debut in the Aston Martin AMR26, completing 49 laps but staying off the pace in 11th, while Valtteri Bottas brought up the rear for Cadillac. Mercedes and Racing Bulls sat out, having maxed their allotted three days earlier in the week.

As the checkered flag fell and engines cooled, the test wrapped on a high note for Ferrari, who not only topped the times but also logged reliable mileage. McLaren’s strong showing suggested a fierce title fight ahead, while Red Bull’s endurance boded well for race weekends. No major incidents marred the day—save Verstappen’s harmless gravel trap visit—leaving teams to pore over data in secrecy until the next outing. Barcelona had delivered its verdict: 2026 was shaping up to be a thriller, with old rivalries reignited and new challengers lurking in the wings. The grid was set; now, the real racing could begin.

Barcelona Testing Day 5 Results