Formula 1 News of the Week – February 7, 2026
With pre-season testing in Bahrain just over a week away, the F1 paddock is buzzing with initial impressions from the Barcelona Shakedown and an unexpected link to the Winter Games. Drivers have been dissecting their first experiences with the radically new 2026 cars, while others are setting ambitious goals for the year ahead. All this as the sporting world turns its attention to Milano Cortina for the Winter Olympics—an event with a surprising, historic connection to Formula 1. Let’s dive into the headlines.
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🚗 Drivers’ Verdict: 2026 Cars Are “Fun,” Powerful, and a New Challenge
The first collective run of the new 2026 cars at the Barcelona Shakedown is complete, and the driver feedback is overwhelmingly positive, centered on increased power, agility, and driving enjoyment.
The reigning world champion set the tone, with Lando Norris calling the new McLaren “fun to drive” and noting, “It’s more power and less grip to a certain extent… you’re hustling, you’re having to control the car a bit more.” His teammate Oscar Piastri agreed, highlighting the immediate sensation of “a lot of power, more than we had last year, and less downforce.”
Lewis Hamilton shared the enthusiasm, describing the Ferrari as “a little bit more fun to drive – it’s oversteery, it’s snappy and sliding, but it’s a little bit easier to catch.” George Russell pointed out the visible increase in straight-line speed, calling it “probably the quickest I’ve ever seen an F1 car pass here in Barcelona.”
A key technical takeaway came from Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, who noted the elimination of porpoising allows teams to “play with ride heights” and setup more freely, calling the options “super nice and super interesting.” Rookies like Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) and Ollie Bearman (Haas) emphasized the unique opportunity for drivers to have a greater impact on performance with these new, complex machines.
🏆 Antonelli’s Ambition: Eyeing the Title Alongside Russell
At the Mercedes team launch, sophomore driver Kimi Antonelli openly outlined his ultimate goal: to fight for the World Championship. When asked about a potential title battle, the 19-year-old Italian was clear: “That’s absolutely the goal… to eventually fight for the World Championship.”
He eagerly anticipates the internal challenge, stating he is “really looking forward” to competing against teammate George Russell, whom he called “one of the benchmarks on the grid.” Antonelli believes the new regulations offer a “big opportunity” for drivers who adapt quickly, though he acknowledges his own need to keep learning after reflecting on his rookie season.
Team Principal Toto Wolff tempered expectations slightly, affirming his confidence in Antonelli’s speed and race craft but cautioning, “I don’t think we should expect him to be like George all the time.” Wolff emphasized that Russell, a proven front-runner, remains the benchmark for the young Italian’s second year.
🔧 Verstappen Encouraged by Red Bull’s New In-House Engine
The Barcelona running was a critical first test for Red Bull’s boldest 2026 project: their brand-new, in-house Red Bull Powertrains engine. The initial verdict from the garage is one of cautious optimism.
Max Verstappen, who completed a solid number of laps despite a cold, reported a “good start” and said the team had “hit the ground running quite well.” He emphasized that having a reliable base to learn from was a positive step, though he noted, “it’s still very early days” with plenty of work ahead.
New teammate Isack Hadjar gave an “impressive” assessment of the power unit, which is also supplied to sister team Racing Bulls. Team Principal Laurent Mekies, who had previously called the decision to build an engine from scratch “as crazy as it gets,” hailed the effort from the team in Milton Keynes, calling it a “first moment that everybody… should be proud of.”
⛷️ From the Slopes to the Track: F1’s Winter Olympians
As the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics begin, a look back reveals a unique group of four F1 drivers who also competed on the world’s biggest winter sports stage.
- Divina Galica (Alpine): Before attempting to qualify for three F1 Grands Prix in the 1970s, Galica was a champion skier for Great Britain. She competed in three consecutive Olympics (1964, ’68, ’72), with a best finish of 7th in giant slalom. Astonishingly, she returned at age 47 for the 1992 Albertville Games in speed skiing.
- Alfonso de Portago (Ferrari): The Spanish aristocrat, who scored an F1 podium in 1956, also piloted Spain’s first-ever bobsleigh at the 1956 Cortina d’Ampezzo Games, finishing a heartbreaking 4th, just 0.16 seconds off the podium.
- Bob Said (USA): After a single F1 start in 1969, Said had already competed in bobsleigh at the 1968 Grenoble Olympics for the United States.
- Robin Widdows (Great Britain): Like Said, Widdows had one F1 race (1968) but first competed in the four-man bobsleigh at the 1964 Innsbruck Games.
🏅 Honourable Mention 2026: Keep an eye on the bobsleigh track this year, where former Sauber test driver Simona de Silvestro will represent Italy in the monobob and two-person events.
🛣️ What’s Next: The Final Countdown to Bahrain
The talking is nearly over. After the insights from Barcelona, the entire F1 grid now heads to the Bahrain International Circuit for the first official pre-season test from February 11-13, followed immediately by a second test at the same venue from February 18-20.
These six crucial days of running will provide the first true comparative data on the 2026 pecking order. Teams will be working tirelessly to understand their new cars and power units before the championship begins in earnest at the Australian Grand Prix, March 6-8.
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