When will teams take part in F1’s first test in 2026?

The primary of three F1 pre-season checks begins subsequent week in Barcelona. Here is every part it’s essential to find out about it.

The most important regulation adjustments in latest F1 historical past have resulted in three pre-season checks to be held earlier than the season opener in Australia on March eighth.

The primary was a mass shakedown at Spain’s Barcelona-Catalunya circuit.

The primary check will happen from January twenty sixth to thirtieth and will likely be held behind closed doorways to permit groups and drivers to familiarize themselves with the all-new F1 automobile away from the prying eyes and scrutiny of followers and the world’s media.

All 11 F1 groups are allowed to run on three days of the five-day window.

Here is what we all know to date about which groups will run and when.

Williams – Complete check is lacking

Williams introduced on Friday that it will not participate within the first week of testing in Barcelona as a result of delays within the growth of its FW48 automobile.

The choice means Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz won’t be able to drive Williams’ 2026 automobile till the primary official pre-season check in Bahrain from February 11-13.

“Because the Williams F1 Crew continues to attempt for optimum efficiency from the automobile, following delays to the FW48 program, we’ve taken the choice to not take part in subsequent week’s shakedown check in Barcelona,” the staff stated in an announcement.

“As a substitute, the staff will conduct a sequence of checks subsequent week, together with a VTT (Digital Check Observe) program, on the 2026 automobile in preparation for the primary official check in Bahrain and the primary race of the season in Melbourne.”

“We look ahead to getting again on observe within the coming weeks and want to thank our followers for his or her continued help. We’ve a lot to look ahead to collectively in 2026.”

The numerous blow to Williams’ preparations for 2026 is harking back to 2019, when the staff’s automobile was late for pre-season testing. Williams was in monetary bother on the time, however fortunately issues have since modified beneath the possession of Dorington Capital.

McLaren – Take part on day 2 or 3

McLaren will miss at the least the primary day of apply in Barcelona, ​​and should even postpone operating its 2026 F1 automobile till the third day of the season.

Crew principal Andrea Stella defined that the choice was strategic and aimed toward maximizing the event of the MCL40.

“This was at all times going to be Plan A,” Stella instructed media retailers like Crash.internet. “There are such a lot of adjustments taking place that we do not essentially should be the primary to get off the bottom.

“We needed to spend as a lot time as attainable on growth as a result of every single day we developed, every single day we designed, we have been getting higher efficiency little by little.

“Getting on observe early provides you with the peace of thoughts that you’ll know what it’s essential to know as quickly as attainable.

“However on the similar time, it means you will have labored on the design and realization of the automobile at a comparatively early stage, making compromises when it comes to growth time and remaining efficiency.

“Naturally, there will likely be updates to virtually each automobile between testing and the primary race, however given the economics of the season, we thought it was vital to begin and launch the automobile with essentially the most aggressive package deal and configuration.”

“So we pushed all of the timing to the restrict, however inside very manageable limits. We did not really feel the necessity to plan any testing on day one.”

Ferrari – Scheduled to take part on day 2

Ferrari, like McLaren, will likely be absent from the primary day of shakedown.

The Italians are scheduled to participate within the second day of testing, and are scheduled to run the 2026 vehicles on the penultimate Thursday.

Ferrari has not but determined whether or not the third day of permitted operating will finish on Wednesday or Friday.

After saying the SF-26 challenger at Fiorano on Friday, Ferrari staff principal Fred Vasseur stated: “We are going to begin testing on Tuesday after which we are going to determine which days to run from Thursday in line with the rules, however we may also be on observe on Thursday.”

“This new regulation is all about enchancment, the educational course of and growth. Because of this we’re so keen about F1.”

On Friday, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc shot down an SF-26 at Fiorano.

Audi – to begin from day one

Audi will likely be prepared to depart the storage at 9am on the primary day of the Barcelona check.

This comes after they grew to become the primary F1 staff to conduct a shakedown check after they ran the R26 in Barcelona on January ninth.

Audi’s technical director James Key stated of the choice to exit the block early: “This was a call that was made about 18 months in the past, so we form of knew this was coming.

“It wasn’t a last-minute factor. However no, we actually needed a observe reference as considered one of solely two newcomers on the block. And we agreed with our energy unit colleagues that we’d attempt to get it on observe as quickly as attainable.”

The remaining groups haven’t but introduced their observe dates, however Cadillac, Racing Bulls, Alpine and Mercedes have already shakedowned their new vehicles.