Bahrain Testing 2026
Sakhir International Circuit
Testing Begins
11 - 13
February 2026
Testing Schedule
Wednesday, Feb 11
Bahrain International Circuit
Thursday, Feb 12
Bahrain International Circuit
Friday, Feb 13
Bahrain International Circuit
Barcelona Shakedown - Week 1
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
January 27-31, 2026 • 5 Days of Shakedown Testing
🏆 Hamilton Sets Pace for Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets on the final day of testing, giving Ferrari an impressive end to the Barcelona shakedown week. The seven-time world champion described it as "a hugely enjoyable week" with the SF-26.
⚡ Mercedes Show "Relentless Pace"
George Russell posted the quickest time on Day 3, with Mercedes displaying impressive reliability and consistent pace throughout the week. Martin Brundle noted the team's "relentless pace and reliability can't be ignored."
🏎️ Aston Martin Debuts Newey's Design
Aston Martin finally debuted their 2026 challenger featuring Adrian Newey's design influence. Team Principal Mike Krack reflected on an "emotional" first run for the new car with Honda power.
🔧 McLaren Face Technical Issues
McLaren suffered fuel system issues during testing, though Oscar Piastri confirmed the "bugs" were fixed and described his first drive in the MCL42 positively. Lando Norris debuted the car and shared the team's learnings from the shakedown.
🚀 Red Bull's Positive Start
Red Bull Racing surprised themselves with a strong showing in Barcelona. George Russell commented he was "impressed" as Red Bull made a positive start to F1's new era with their RB26.
⚠️ Williams Miss First Test
Williams Racing was unable to participate in the Barcelona shakedown with their 2026 car not ready in time for the first test session.
Overall Assessment
The Barcelona shakedown provided teams with their first real-world data on F1's new era of regulations. The 2026 technical rules featuring active aerodynamics, 50% electric hybrid power, and sustainable fuels were successfully tested by nine teams across the five-day session.
While testing times don't always reflect true race pace, the shakedown gave fans their first glimpse of the competitive order, with Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull appearing to lead the way into the new regulatory era.
2026 Team Launches
Red Bull Racing
RB26 Launch
January 23, 2026
Oracle Red Bull Racing unveiled their 2026 challenger, showcasing the new aerodynamic regulations and hybrid powertrain.
Watch LaunchFerrari
SF-26 Launch
January 21, 2026
Scuderia Ferrari presented the SF-26 at Maranello, featuring innovative aerodynamic solutions for the new technical era.
Watch LaunchMercedes-AMG
W17 Launch
January 22, 2026
Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team revealed the W17 with major updates to their aerodynamic philosophy and powertrain.
Watch LaunchMcLaren
MCL42 Launch
January 24, 2026
McLaren Racing launched the MCL42 with an eye-catching papaya livery and advanced Mercedes power unit integration.
Watch LaunchAston Martin
AMR26 Launch
January 25, 2026
Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team unveiled the AMR26 with Adrian Newey's design influence and Honda power.
Watch LaunchAlpine
A526 Launch
January 20, 2026
BWT Alpine F1 Team presented the A526 with a striking blue and pink livery and renewed Mercedes partnership.
Watch LaunchMore Coming Soon
Additional Team Launches
Williams, Racing Bulls, Haas, Sauber, and Cadillac will unveil their 2026 challengers in the coming weeks.
Testing Information
📍 Location Details
Circuit
Bahrain International Circuit
Location
Sakhir, Bahrain
Track Length
5.412 km (3.363 miles)
Time Zone
GMT+3 (Arabia Standard Time)
📋 Testing Rules
3 days of official pre-season testing
Each team limited to 2 cars on track
New 2026 technical regulations in effect
Mandatory use of active aerodynamics
50% electric power from new hybrid systems
Sustainable fuels required for all sessions