Formula 1 teams will gather at the Bahrain International Circuit from February 11 to 13 for the initial three days of pre-season testing ahead of the 2026 season. This session follows private shakedowns and car launches, with only the final hour of each day available for live broadcast. The testing provides crucial track time to evaluate new regulations and machinery.
The Bahrain International Circuit serves as the venue for the first block of F1 pre-season testing, running from Wednesday, February 11, to Friday, February 13. This three-day period marks the official start of on-track preparations for the 2026 championship, following private shakedowns in Barcelona from January 26 to 30 and a debut run for Williams at Silverstone.
By the testing's commencement, all 11 teams will have unveiled their 2026 liveries. McLaren and Aston Martin hosted launch events on February 9 in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, respectively, while Cadillac revealed its design during the Super Bowl on February 8. Cadillac joins the grid as the 11th team for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Unlike previous years' full broadcasts, only the last hour of each day— from 18:00 to 19:00 local time (16:00-17:00 GMT)—will be televised live through F1 TV and broadcasters like Sky Sports F1 in the UK, airing from 15:00 to 16:00 GMT. Additional coverage includes Sky Sports' Testing Wrap at 20:00 GMT and Ted's Testing Notebook at 20:30 GMT, plus live updates via Motorsport.com's blog.
Teams will run one car per outfit, with drivers sharing approximately 12 hours of track time each over the session, which spans 10:00 to 19:00 local (07:00-16:00 GMT) daily, including a one-hour lunch break. The focus shifts from Barcelona's initial hardware checks to more intensive reliability tests, performance evaluations, and adaptations to new features like active aerodynamics, Boost, Overtake, and Recharge modes, as well as updated tyre compounds. No components from 2025 cars carry over, making this a fresh learning curve.
A second testing block follows on February 18-20, with full-day live coverage, before the season begins in Australia on March 6-8. Observers note that varying programs may obscure the true competitive order, but mileage and driver feedback will offer early insights.
