The 2026 F1 pre-season testing schedule introduces a trio of sessions designed to allow teams to fine-tune their revolutionary new cars under Formula 1‘s most transformative rules in over a decade.
Kicking off the preparations is the first test, a private five-day affair at the iconic Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from January 26 to 30.
Unlike the subsequent open sessions, the Barcelona pre-season test operates behind closed doors, organized independently by the teams in coordination with the Spanish circuit, ensuring no public timing data is released.
The choice of Catalunya, renowned for its diverse mix of high-speed straights, technical corners, and elevation changes, makes it an ideal venue for initial mileage accumulation and reliability checks on the new 2026 chassis.
Teams like Ferrari have already signaled that this phase will prioritize endurance over outright pace, focusing on shaking down power units that deliver nearly equal splits between internal combustion and electric power.
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Transitioning seamlessly into public view, the schedule intensifies with two official three-day tests at the Bahrain International Circuit, the enduring “Home of Motorsport in the Middle East.”
The second test unfolds from February 11 to 13, followed immediately by the third from February 18 to 20, providing a total of six days of open-track action before jetting to Australia for the March 6-8 season opener at Albert Park.
2026 F1 pre-season testing schedule
| Test | Venue | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Barcelona pre-season test 1 | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya | January 26-30 |
| Bahrain pre-season test 2 | Bahrain International Circuit | February 11-13 |
| Bahrain pre-season test 3 | Bahrain International Circuit | February 18-20 |
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