Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso could end up being the wildcard in the fight for the drivers’ championship this season.
There are high hopes for Mercedes after their promising start to the year at the Barcelona shakedown, with many believing they have the most effective power unit.
That will keep reigning constructors’ championsMcLaren in contention, while Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time at the Circuit de Catalunya for Ferrari, and Red Bull looked very good with their new engine.
However, by far the most exciting moment during the week-long outing in Barcelona was when Aston Martin’s car finally took to the track on Thursday.
Only Williams completed fewer laps than Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso, and that’s because they missed the shakedown completely.
Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert have been previewing the rest of the testing schedule and the 2026 campaign in general, and with two more outings in Bahrain to come, they think Alonso could be allowed a unique approach to his preparations that might give him a distinct advantage.