The F1 Barcelona Shakedown has begun, featuring a closed-door test of all-new 2026 cars. On Day 1, George Russell expressed his admiration for the performance of both Red Bull and Haas, noting a significant evolution in their setups since 2014. Meanwhile, the event has seen Aston Martin become the second team to miss vital testing days, contributing to discussions surrounding car preparation delays, particularly highlighting significant issues faced by Williams. McLaren debuted a striking new livery for their 2026 car but will also miss the first day of testing. Amidst various setbacks, including an Audi delay linked to testing issues, teams continue to prepare for the upcoming season, with early reports indicating that certain aspects of performance could provoke rival team concerns.