F1 2026:

A Beginner’s Guide to Testing

Why Do Teams Test?

It seems obvious, but in a sport that moves quickly from race to race, once the season starts, track time without some of the limitations of a Grand Prix weekend is crucial for teams and drivers alike.

In a year of new regulations, there is a lot for the grid to learn.

Testing allows teams to stress-test their machines in preparation for a new season, to see if the new designs are working as they should, and in the case of 2026, that a year of hard work and dedication to bring a new Power Unit to life has been worthwhile.

While F1 simulators are very much state-of-the-art pieces of equipment, nothing beats running a car on a real racetrack when it comes to gathering data and checking systems.

Engineers get the chance to see if data collection from a winter in the wind tunnel correlates with on-track conditions, and the mechanics can dust off any rust from the off-season by practicing pit stops at full speed once more.

For the drivers too, of course, testing allows the chance to get behind the wheel after over six weeks off and feel all the new sensations and feelings that a new car brings.

What’s Different to Testing in 2026?

In recent years, teams have gathered in Bahrain for three days of pre-season testing, but in 2026 things will be slightly different, with F1 set to run two three-day blocks in Sakhir, to give teams one final chance to hone their challengers for the season ahead.

Each day will feature two sessions of four hours, one in the morning, and one in the afternoon. In each session, teams can only run one car, though they may switch the driver if they wish.

The first test will run from 11-13 February, with the second test taking place between 18-20 February.

After that, it will be all hands on deck to get ready for Australia, and the start of an exciting new era of Grand Prix racing in Melbourne.

Shakedown vs Testing: What’s the difference?

Ah yes, shakedown, a word that has come up a lot in the run-up to the 2026 season.

Team shakedown days are more strictly regulated than a test, as they only permit teams to run a maximum of 200km.

This is quite often more than enough to whet the appetite and is not too limiting given teams are unlikely to feel European winter temperatures will help them understand an awful lot about their new designs.

What a shakedown does allow teams to do is check that the car does – fundamentally at least – work and is still useful in highlighting any early issues that may need to be worked on.

It is also a big moment for everyone back at the factory, who have poured their hearts and souls into making the car come to life over the previous year.

Shakedown and testing are not about lap time, with every team taking a different approach to maximise their own understanding of their car’s behaviour.

So, What Happened in Barcelona?

Unlike in previous years, the first official pre-season test in Bahrarin will not be the first time F1 cars have run in 2026.

Back in January, there was a five-day long private 'Shakedown' session for teams to gain even more mileage and learning about their cars in preparation for the new season. This took place between 26-30 January and was closed to fans and members of the media.

Teams were only permitted to run on three of the five days, but did have a choice as to which three.

Unlike a team shakedown, there was no limit on the distance teams could run their cars for, with every lap and every second crucial in helping understand where improvements could be made before heading to Bahrain and then Australia in March.

George and Kimi completed 500 laps (or 2,328.5km) in Spain across our three days of running, while Mercedes-powered cars banked 1,128 laps (5,253km) throughout the week.