Three impressively smooth shakedown days in Barcelona have done little to dispel the notion that Mercedes is entering the new era of Formula 1 on the front foot. Mercedes has by far completed the most laps both as a team and as a power unit supplier, rival teams have been keen to install the Brackley-based operation to the top of the predicted pecking order, and George Russell has seen his betting odds as the 2026 world champion shorten considerably.
It is undeniably true that Mercedes couldn’t have got off to a better pre-season start, finishing one of its Barcelona test days early simply because it had already completed its entire run plan earlier and with fewer gremlins than calculated.
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– The Autosport.com Team