Going into Formula 1’s preseason testing, there was a collective acknowledgement of the fact that everything was going to change. With a few shaky starts and endless questions, the preseason testing has lived up to its expectations. 

Right from the start, underdogs Cadillac and Atlassian Williams hit the ground running with their reliable cars: the new team Cadillac managed to complete 107 laps, and Atlassian Williams 145 – the most of any team.

Audi also had a productive week as the first team to hit the track. Their team boss Jonathan Wheatley said he was “almost proud of where we are” as the team ran a new aerodynamic package. 

Most of the top teams were performing reliably. Ferrari’s engine reduces turbo lag compared to the rest of the grid, meaning the Ferraris can start smoother. Team boss Frédéric Vasseur seemed to have anticipated the turbo lag issue the grid currently faces. 

Red Bull’s new Ford powertrain, built in-house, was also performing well. In reference to their engine, Mercedes driver George Russell said they were “the team to beat,” as Max Verstappen knocked out 136 laps himself on day one. The same could not be said for Russell himself, who called the testing session a “reality check”. Trackside chief Andrew Shovlin said they had “challenges with brake locking, poor traction and general inconsistency.” Even so, they remain a force to be reckoned with as one of the top four teams. 

Aston Martin was expected to be another upstart this year, under the leadership of aerodynamicist Adrian Newey. But as testing went on, it became clear the team had enormous work to do. Lance Stroll said their difficulties stem from “a combination of things: engine, balance grip,” and that they were “four seconds off the top teams.”

Aston Martin has had to accept that their new season will start on the back foot. But Fernando Alonso still retains hopeful. “After 30-plus years of Adrian Newey dominating the sport, I think no one will doubt that we will find a way to have the best car eventually,” Alonso said.

Interestingly, none of the teams seem to like their labels, whether good or bad. Mercedes said Red Bull is the benchmark, Verstappen, in turn, claimed Mercedes will catch up, and Alonso said Aston Martin will return.

 Handling and reliability have been the overarching focuses of the first test, as the new regulations bring entirely new sustainable fuels, aero designs and remarkably complicated battery systems. The driving style of the new cars requires significant energy management, and as such, the reliability of the powertrains takes priority.