At the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from January 26 to 30, the 2026 Formula 1 season‘s first test exposed significant difficulties for newcomers Audi and Cadillac as they aimed to establish themselves in the sport’s evolving landscape. These teams confronted the daunting task of developing their own chassis and advanced hybrid power units amid a shift to simplified aerodynamics, marking a demanding introduction to the top tier of motorsport.
Established Competitors Dominate While New Entrants Face Setbacks
Veteran teams such as Mercedes and Ferrari completed hundreds of laps smoothly, highlighting the vast experience gap. In stark contrast, Audi and Cadillac struggled to complete consistent running during the five-day shakedown, underscoring the intense engineering demands of Formula 1. For these new entrants, even minor issues had the potential to derail vital testing progress in a domain where every millisecond matters.
Audi’s Difficult Debut and Learning Curve
Transitioning from the former Sauber team, Audi began the test with its own power unit but immediately ran into numerous technical problems. Mattia Binotto, Head of the Audi F1 Project, described the issues bluntly:
“I’ve never seen such a long list.”
Despite completing 240 laps—considerable for a debut—this was less than half of Mercedes’ tally of 502 laps.
The opening day was disrupted multiple times due to precautionary stops and minor technical glitches. Driver Gabriel Bortoleto acknowledged how these interruptions affected their schedule, while teammate Nico Hülkenberg experienced a short stoppage caused by “a real basic” hydraulic leak between Turns 9 and 10. Further troubles arose on Day 3 when the Audi R26 ceased running again, amplifying the team’s difficulties.
However, Audi found some momentum on Day 2, completing over 140 laps. Hülkenberg hailed it as
“definitely our best day of the week”
and praised the mileage accumulated across their systems. Bortoleto shared similar optimism by calling the final day
“a positive day of running on top of an encouraging testing week”
despite setbacks due to repairs.
Binotto reflected on the experience as foundational:
“It’s the beginning of our experience as a team, as a power unit manufacturer. There is a lot to learn and we are learning a lot,”
while also admitting that
“a lot of problems [were] stopping us, slowing down the run plan.”
With no customer teams to share the burden of running mileage, Audi’s engineers face an intensive analysis phase ahead of official tests in Bahrain scheduled for February.
Cadillac’s Accelerated Entry Faces Harsh Technical Trials
Cadillac’s journey to Formula 1 was even more compressed, having been approved only 323 days before the Barcelona test. Without time to develop their own engine, they partnered with Ferrari for power units, yet managed just 164 laps overall, one of the lowest track counts in the field.
Drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas endured a frustrating week marked by numerous mechanical and electronic failures. Perez summarized the situation plainly:
“More than surprises, problems. Problems everywhere with the engine, with the car, with a few electronic issues.”
He added,
“But I’m glad it’s happening now, and of course, we still have a lot of work ahead of us, especially as a new team. So yes, these are exciting times.”
The team ran an all-black, carbon fiber car mainly during Day 1, with weather conditions limiting session participation later in the week. Under the TWG Motorsports banner, Cadillac’s mileage was severely limited toward the end of testing. Bottas completed 33 laps during morning runs, including a longer stint, while Perez managed only 11 laps in the afternoon due to ongoing issues.
Team principal Graeme Lowdon highlighted the focus on durability:
“The target for this week was very much shakedown — ticking off various tests and things that are more to do with reliability, and ensuring that we have a stable platform.”
Despite the setbacks, Perez remained positive about steady improvements:
“We are improving on pretty much every run.”
Contrast with Veteran Teams Highlights Newcomers’ Steep Learning Curve
While Audi and Cadillac concentrated on fundamental reliability, seasoned outfits like Mercedes and Ferrari amassed more than 400 laps apiece, dedicating their time to performance tuning. Red Bull and McLaren also overcame minor problems, positioning themselves as early favorites for the upcoming season. By comparison, the new teams’ testing mainly revolved around survival and addressing baseline issues in preparation for more rigorous track sessions.
Outlook as the Season Progresses Toward Bahrain
Looking ahead to the forthcoming official tests in Bahrain, both Audi and Cadillac carry cautious optimism despite their difficult debuts. Audi’s Mattia Binotto views the Barcelona test as “the beginning of our experience,” while Sergio Perez labels this new era in Formula 1 as “exciting.” Nonetheless, in a sport where building every component from the ground up is essential, these early difficulties may significantly influence the newcomers’ season trajectory or, conversely, provide a foundation for a dramatic recovery.
