Overview
- F1 has scheduled three winter tests for the overhauled 2026 cars: Barcelona on January 26–30, followed by Bahrain on February 11–13 and February 18–20, ahead of the March 9 season opener in Melbourne.
- The Barcelona session will run without spectators or official timing, whereas both Bahrain tests will be open to journalists and TV coverage.
- Key technical changes for 2026 include new power units and chassis, removal of DRS, active front and rear aero, an overtake mode, and a push-to-boost button.
- Cadillac joins the grid in 2026 after winning approval following Andretti’s rejected bid, with cars from Cadillac and Audi expected to run during winter testing.
- Red Bull–Ford says its new power unit program is on schedule, with recent emphasis on drivability, while true performance relative to Ferrari, Honda and Mercedes will only be revealed on track.