James Vowles, the head of Williams, expressed that Mercedes’ ability to execute a complete race simulation just two days into the Formula 1 pre-season shakedown in Barcelona was akin to a ‘mockery’ to the competition.
Mercedes kicked off their 2026 pre-season campaign with an impressive performance as Andrea Kimi Antonelli managed to complete an entire race simulation on the second day of the Barcelona shakedown held at the end of January.
The Mercedes W17, equipped with its HPP power unit, showcased remarkable reliability as both Antonelli and his teammate George Russell put the car through its paces. Customer teams McLaren and Alpine also benefited from dependable engine performance.
As a result of this outstanding showing, Antonelli completed a full race distance while many other teams were still far from that milestone, garnering attention from rival teams.
“I’ve been impressed with them,” Vowles remarked. “I probably shouldn’t be because I used to be a part of it, but for Mercedes to hit the ground running and complete a race simulation on day two, that’s a significant mockery to everyone else regarding how advanced they are right now.”
Following the successful shakedown, Russell expressed his satisfaction with the W17’s performance, although he acknowledged that the top four teams from 2025 appeared competitive.
“We left Barcelona feeling positive because the car responded as expected,” Russell noted. “The aerodynamic data aligns with what we observe on the simulator, and the car’s handling mirrors the simulator’s feedback. This level of alignment is something we haven’t experienced since 2021 as a team.”
Despite the optimism, Russell remained cautious about the competition, particularly with discussions surrounding the Red Bull power unit’s performance in its first year. He remarked, “From what we’ve observed so far, they have certainly delivered. The Ferrari power unit also seems reliable, as they completed numerous laps closely trailing us during the test. The reality is that we could be in for a tough battle, but we’re pleased with our progress thus far.”
Vowles also acknowledged the strides made by Red Bull Ford Powertrains in developing its inaugural power unit, particularly noting the impressive performance of its internal combustion engine during the Barcelona tests.
“I have been pleasantly surprised, in a positive way for the sport, by the competitiveness of Red Bull’s power unit,” Vowles added. “To create a power unit from scratch in your first season, have both teams cover substantial distances, is quite remarkable.”
Unfortunately, Williams could not participate in the Barcelona shakedown due to delays in production. Although the data gathered by other Mercedes-powered teams somewhat alleviated their situation, the team still faces the challenge of catching up in the upcoming two three-day tests in the Gulf.
To mitigate the setback, Williams conducted two filming days at Silverstone and Bahrain to test the FW48. Vowles stated, “While we missed the test, we compensated with a week of virtual track running, completing several hundred kilometers. It’s not the same as on-track testing, but it helps identify issues, followed by two filming days where the car performed perfectly, achieving our desired mileage.”
Vowles acknowledged the gap created by other teams completing three days of testing but remained optimistic about closing that distance across the next six days. He emphasized, “We need to remember that most seasons involve three days of testing, and we’ve doubled that this year. The power units are generally performing well, enabling us to achieve significant mileage and get back on track to meet our goals.”
