Formula 1's 2026 pre-season moves into public view this week as all 11 teams head to Bahrain for the first official test sessions after the behind-closed-doors Barcelona shakedown.
The Schedule
Two three-day tests take place at the Bahrain International Circuit:
Test 1: February 11-13
Test 2: February 18-20
Running times: 7am-4pm GMT (10am-7pm Bahrain time) daily
Sky Sports F1 will broadcast the final hour of each day during the first test, with full live coverage resuming for the entire second test from February 18-20.
Williams will finally join their rivals after missing Barcelona due to manufacturing delays. Following a brief Silverstone shakedown this week, Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon face an intense catching-up exercise to gather the data their competitors accumulated over five days in Spain. The team plans another filming day on February 10 before official running begins.
Mercedes impressed in Barcelona with 502 laps and strong pace, establishing themselves as early favourites. However, Bahrain's warmer temperatures will provide the first true test of whether their advantage holds in race-like conditions.
Ferrari showed speed with Lewis Hamilton topping Barcelona times, though reports suggest the SF-26 was difficult to drive. Adrian Newey's striking Aston Martin completed just 65 laps in Spain and desperately needs mileage, while Red Bull's new in-house engine showed encouraging signs despite Isack Hadjar's crash.
What's at stake
The 2026 regulations represent F1's most comprehensive technical overhaul in decades, with new power units producing equal electric and combustion power. Bahrain's varied layout will stress-test reliability and reveal which teams have successfully adapted to the revolutionary changes.
With the Australian Grand Prix season opener on March 8, just two weeks after testing ends, teams face intense pressure to finalise their packages. These six days in Bahrain will determine who arrives in Melbourne ready to fight and who faces an uphill battle from the opening race.
