Although only two teams took to the track on the second day of Formula 1’s five-day ‘shakedown’ behind closed doors at the Circuit de Catalunya, there was plenty of material for analysis.
During the morning, as Ferrari focused on data collection and logging mileage on its first proper day of running the SF-26, Charles Leclerc was able to complete his first laps on a soaking track surface as rain set in, taking advantage of Ferrari’s decision to carry two sets of Pirelli’s new full wet tyres in its allocation.
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Over the course of his many laps in the wet, Leclerc was able to test the Partial Active Aero Mode, one of the technical and sporting innovations for the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Active aerodynamics are an extension of the now-retired DRS (Drag Reduction System), which was used from 2011 until the end of 2025. It aims to make the cars more efficient on the straights, via reduced aerodynamic resistance, boosting speed and reducing the energy demand on each car’s hybrid system.
Initially envisaged as being either on or off, the active aerodynamics now encompass a third state that Leclerc evaluated on Barcelona’s main straight: while the rear wing remains ‘closed’, the second and third elements of the front wing flatten out.
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This third mode was introduced as part of the latest draft of the regulations last December. Until then, the rules stipulated that drivers could not use active aerodynamics at all in wet track conditions.
There were two main reasons for adding this mode to the package. Firstly, there remained a worry that running full downforce on the straights would draw too much energy and result in the electrical system running out of battery power, which would damage the spectacle and act as a focus for negative sentiment.
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Another pressing concern, with several disqualifications for excess skid block wear last season lingering in the memory, is that high downforce levels on the straights would contribute to high levels of skid wear. It’s no surprise, therefore, that this third active aero mode was put on the table in the wake of McLaren’s controversial exclusion from the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Photos from Barcelona shakedownFranco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Alpine
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Ferrari motorhome
Ferrari motorhome
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Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Team Principal, Ben Waterhouse, Red Bull Racing Head of Performance Engineering
Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Team Principal, Ben Waterhouse, Red Bull Racing Head of Performance Engineering
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes W17
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes W17
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
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Cadillac F1 Team garage atmosphere
Cadillac F1 Team garage atmosphere
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Esteban Ocon, Haas
Esteban Ocon, Haas
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi
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Lando Norris, Mclaren
Lando Norris, Mclaren
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Alpine
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
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Helmet of Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi
Helmet of Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes W17
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes W17
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes W17
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes W17
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
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Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Team Principal
Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Team Principal
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Oliver Bearman, Haas
Oliver Bearman, Haas
Haas F1 Team
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Alpine
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Ferrari
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes W17
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes W17
Mercedes AMG
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Audi R26 in the pitlane
Audi R26 in the pitlane
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Esteban Ocon, Haas
Esteban Ocon, Haas
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
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Sergio Perez, Cadillac F1 Team
Sergio Perez, Cadillac F1 Team
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
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Sergio Perez, Cadillac
Sergio Perez, Cadillac
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes W17
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes W17
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Mattia Binotto, Audi
Mattia Binotto, Audi
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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Esteban Ocon, Haas
Esteban Ocon, Haas
Haas F1 Team
audif
audif
Audi
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Ferrari
Mattia Binotto, Audi
Mattia Binotto, Audi
Audi
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Ferrari
Oliver Bearman, Haas
Oliver Bearman, Haas
Formula 1
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Formula 1
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Ferrari
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Formula 1
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