2026 F1 Testing Begins in Barcelona as New Cars Hit the Track
The 2026 F1 season officially starts with testing in Barcelona. Seven teams, including Mercedes and Audi, debut their new cars, focusing on reliability and data gathering rather than outright performance.
Formula 1's 2026 season has officially commenced at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, marking the first on-track appearance of the highly anticipated new generation of cars. Seven of the eleven teams took to the track on the opening day, with Mercedes, Audi, and Alpine among the first to send their challengers out just minutes after the green light.
Why it matters:
This test represents the first real-world validation of the new technical regulations, specifically the revised power unit rules. With the session held behind closed doors, teams are prioritizing system reliability and data collection over lap times, ensuring their complex new hybrids can withstand the rigors of racing before the competitive season begins.
The Details:
- Debut Drivers: Kimi Antonelli had the honor of driving the Mercedes W17, while Gabriel Bortoleto and Franco Colapinto took the wheel of the Audi RS26 and Alpine A526 respectively.
- Program Focus: The primary objective for the early days is not outright performance but verifying systems and gathering data on the new power units.
- Schedule Structure: Running is divided into two four-hour sessions daily, from 09:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 18:00 CET.
- Team Strategy: Teams are permitted to run on three of the five available days. While some outfits opted to skip today to focus on later sessions, others chose to hit the ground running immediately.
What's next:
Testing continues throughout the week as teams rotate their schedules. As more teams join the track, the paddock will gain a clearer, albeit still incomplete, picture of the competitive order ahead of the first race.