Overview
- Drivers say conserving charge now dictates pace, with Esteban Ocon reporting lift‑and‑coast even on qualifying laps after the Barcelona shakedown.
- DRS is replaced by an overtake/boost system tied to battery state and activation points, which Lando Norris warns could create complex, ‘yo‑yo’ battles.
- Mercedes completed about 500 laps in Barcelona, and Toto Wolff highlighted a striking straight‑line speed delta during an overtake as a sign of how boost will change racing.
- McLaren’s Andrea Stella says early reliability fears largely eased, and initial signs suggest Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull power units are closer than many expected.
- The FIA is prioritizing clarity on compression‑ratio measurements before Melbourne, and Bahrain tests on 11–13 and 18–20 February are expected to sharpen the competitive picture.