Ce que vous devez retenir
- The decision to hold the Barcelona tests without public access or live broadcasts likely stems from teams’ desire for privacy during what promises to be a challenging development phase.
- (I’ve seen drivers complain about limited testing time for years – imagine trying to figure out an entirely new car concept in just a day and a half.
- The private nature of the Barcelona tests means fans will have to wait until the Bahrain sessions to get their first real insight into which teams have best interpreted the new rules.
In a major development for Formula 1 testing, Barcelona has been confirmed as the venue for the crucial 2026 preseason tests. But there’s a catch that might disappoint racing enthusiasts – these tests will be held behind closed doors with no live broadcast.
Barcelona takes center stage for F1’s new era
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will host the first glimpse of the revolutionary 2026 F1 cars during an extended five-day testing period from January 26 to 30, 2026. This marks a significant shift in the preseason calendar, with tests scheduled much earlier than usual to accommodate the expanded testing program.
Why the extra testing time? The 2026 season introduces one of the most dramatic regulation changes in recent F1 history. The cars will look and perform vastly differently – they’ll be shorter, narrower, and approximately 440 pounds lighter than current models. The familiar DRS system will be replaced by active aerodynamics, and the power units will deliver equal electric and thermal energy output.
Why the secrecy around the Barcelona tests?
The decision to hold the Barcelona tests without public access or live broadcasts likely stems from teams’ desire for privacy during what promises to be a challenging development phase. With such radical technical changes, teams will face numerous reliability issues and will prefer to work through these problems away from prying eyes.
This stands in stark contrast to recent years, where limited testing days (just three in recent seasons) have been public affairs. For Spanish fans hoping to see Fernando Alonso in his new Aston Martin or Carlos Sainz with his team, this news comes as a disappointment.
An expanded testing schedule for unprecedented changes
Following the Barcelona sessions, teams will head to Bahrain for two additional test periods: February 11-13 and February 18-20. Unlike the Barcelona tests, these Bahrain sessions are expected to be open to the public and broadcast live.
In total, teams will have eleven testing days – a substantial increase from recent years when drivers had to make do with just 1.5 days each before the season began. This expanded schedule acknowledges the massive learning curve teams face with the new regulations.
(I’ve seen drivers complain about limited testing time for years – imagine trying to figure out an entirely new car concept in just a day and a half!)
The 2026 season and why it matters
The 2026 F1 season will kick off on March 8 at Melbourne’s Albert Park Circuit in Australia. The calendar will feature 24 races, including two in Spain – Barcelona on June 14 and the new Madrid street circuit on September 13.
This regulatory reset gives hope to teams currently unable to challenge for championships. It also welcomes new manufacturers to the sport, with Audi (taking over Sauber), Ford (powering Red Bull), and Cadillac all joining F1 for this new era.
The power unit changes have attracted these manufacturers because the technology will more closely resemble road car development, with enhanced electrical components matching the industry’s shift toward electrification.
Who might lead the new era?
While McLaren currently dominates the F1 grid, the 2026 regulations could completely shuffle the competitive order. One team drawing attention is Aston Martin, which has secured the services of design genius Adrian Newey to develop their 2026 challenger for Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
The private nature of the Barcelona tests means fans will have to wait until the Bahrain sessions to get their first real insight into which teams have best interpreted the new rules. Until then, development work continues in secret at factories across Europe and beyond.
For now, F1 teams are facing a balancing act between optimizing current cars while dedicating resources to what could be the sport’s most transformative technical revolution in decades.
