The 2026 Formula 1 season will kick off with 10 days of testing events in Barcelona and Bahrain. Next season, F1 will undergo significant changes, featuring new rules for aerodynamics and engines, which means every team will have to create entirely new cars.
Additionally, the number of teams on the grid will increase from 10 to 11, as the American team Cadillac joins the competition.
F1 has announced that preseason testing will begin with a private session from January 26 to January 30 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which hosts the Spanish Grand Prix. Following that, there will be open tests at the Bahrain International Circuit from February 11 to February 13 and again from February 18 to February 20. The season will officially begin with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 8.
The Bahrain test will go ahead as usual, but the Barcelona schedule is not set up by F1 or the FIA. Instead, teams have worked out their own schedule with the Spanish circuit.
Because of this, the Barcelona test won’t be shown on TV, and the timing information won’t be shared publicly. This allows teams to fix any issues with their new cars without anyone watching. The Bahrain tests will proceed as planned.
In addition to Cadillac joining, Audi will also come onto the grid as an engine maker in 2026. The German company will finish its takeover of the Sauber team at the end of this season.
Formula 1 has also announced that the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix will move from Sunday, September 27, to Saturday to fit with a national holiday. The 2026 F1 season will include 24 races, which is the maximum allowed by regulations. A new race in Madrid will take over for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, giving Spain two races on the calendar.
