Overview
- Barcelona’s behind-closed-doors test runs January 26–30 with each team limited to a maximum of three days of running.
- Red Bull enters 2026 with its first in-house power unit developed with Ford, a major unknown Verstappen says leaves “everyone in the dark.”
- The Barcelona session is expected to function as a shakedown before two televised Bahrain tests in mid-February.
- Audi’s early shakedown images hint at 2026 design trends, including refined shark fins, higher rake and noses, pushrod suspensions, and the removal of wheel covers.
- Red Bull’s Detroit event will unveil 2026 liveries late on January 15 local time (3am GMT on January 16), after a teaser using US date format confused some fans.