Overview
- All ten teams are fielding one mule car for 2026 tyre validation and a second current‑spec car driven by a rookie with no more than two F1 starts.
- Pirelli’s 2026 tyres are already homologated, with all compounds present at Yas Marina except the hardest C1 and the full‑wet set.
- A straight‑line cap of roughly 290–300 km/h and four DRS activations, including the start‑finish and Turn 2–5 runs, are in place to manage front‑axle loading.
- Mule cars run Monza‑style front and rear wings with adaptations for slightly narrower tyres to approximate reduced downforce and drag.
- Several regulars are sitting out as teams prioritize young drivers, with entries including Pato O’Ward, Ayumu Iwasa, Frederik Vesti, Arvid Lindblad and Paul Aron.