Fernando Alonso closes the Barcelona Shakedown at the wheel of his new AMR26

The Formula 1 test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya ended its week of tests this Friday, three per team maximum, with the participation of the Spanish Fernando Alonso for the first time at the wheel of the new Aston Martin AMR26 designed by Adrian Newey, the fastest of the Shakedown being Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari.

Aston Martin had made its debut with Lance Stroll on Thursday, just four laps at the end of the session that ended with a red flag, but this Friday he completed his only serious day on the track and gathered information with Alonso. The double world champion rode more than 60 laps with an AMR26 that showed off its radical design a little more on the Catalan track.

Completely black camouflaged, its front, sidepods and engine cover are clearly different from the rest of the cars. At Aston Martin they trust in the magic of Newey, signed in March of last year and whose cars have won 14 drivers’ and 12 Constructors’ World Championships since 1991 in Williams, McLaren and Red Bull.

For his part, Hamilton had the best time, perhaps the best feeling, although everything remains to be seen between now and the start of a new F1 World Championship, with changes in the regulations and cars, from March 6 to 8 in Australia. Before that, in ten days, the official tests in Bahrain will begin, so there is still much left to discover.

However, for the red cars and Hamilton in particular, after the nightmare of his first season with Ferrari, it is a good start to start with good times and good feelings in Montmeló. The Briton left the best time at 1:16.348, thus beating the Mercedes, who had been setting the pace this week.

The current world champion, Lando Norris, also rode this Friday and improved the times of his teammate Oscar Piastri, in addition to leaving McLaren’s problems with the fuel system behind. This setback prevented the papaya car from running as much as the Ferraris, which exceeded 300 laps in Montmeló.

Meanwhile, the fifth and final day was made the most of by Red Bull, out of action since Isack Hadjar’s accident in the wet on Tuesday. Max Verstappen drove more than 100 laps during the day trying to prove that his car is still the favorite in a season in which F1 changes its regulations, chassis, engines, tires and fuels.