Mercedes provided its rivals with another definitive reality check on Thursday in Barcelona, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli topping a session marked also by the belated – if brief – presence on track of Aston Martin’s AMR26. Aston Martin’s Long-Awaited AMR26 Hits the TrackThursday also delivered one of the most anticipated moments of the pre-season: the first on-track appearance of Aston Martin’s 2026 contender, the AMR26. Alpine and Audi opted to save their final day of running for Friday, and Williams missed the entire Barcelona test due to delays building the FW48. For Mercedes, it was the perfect ending to a three-day Barcelona shakedown: pace, reliability, and mileage all in one package. Aston Martin’s presence was short-lived but finally seeing the AMR26 on track marks a milestone for the team and hints at what’s to come.