The power source from Mercedes High Performance Powertrains was already named in 2025 as the best engine for the upcoming Formula 1 season. In 2026, the regulations regarding engines were changed in the premier class of motorsport and the last time that happened, Mercedes also managed to gain a huge lead over the rest of the field.
It looks like Toto Wolff’s team will succeed again in 2026, as the Mercedes power source was indestructible during the test week in Barcelona. The German engine has time in five days [ieder team mocht maar drie dagen hiervan gebruiken om het circuit op te gaan] 1134 laps driven. Shared by three teams – Mercedes, McLaren and Alpine – that was an average of 378 laps per team. A staggering number…
But it now appears that the power source of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli also ran faster than the rest of the field. Sources told Sky Sports F1 this. On the straight of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the Mercedes engine reached a top speed of 347 kilometers per hour. In 2025, the speed record was 330 kilometers per hour, on the straight in Barcelona.
According to information from Sky Sports, the engine of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar was slightly slower. The Red Bull Powertrains power source reached a speed of 344 kilometers per hour on the straight. Also an excellent performance, but still three kilometers per hour less fast than the Mercedes engine.
It must be said that Sky Sports F1 does not know which engine settings the teams drove and the British medium could not say with certainty what Ferrari’s top speed was during the test days.
What is certain is that Aston Martin flew a lot less fast down the straight. Adrian Newey’s team was allowed to drive a maximum of 290 kilometers per hour due to a speed limit. This is to avoid putting too much strain on the Honda engine, which has caused problems in recent weeks.
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