Bahrain Pre‑Season Testing Week Two Live – Schedule, Broadcast Details and Season Kick‑off

The second week of Bahrain pre‑season testing will be streamed live, giving fans a full view of teams polishing their 2026 cars after a limited first‑week feed. The sessions run from Wednesday 18 February to Friday 20 February and will be covered by the sport’s official broadcasters and F1 TV, with Sky Sports F1 handling the UK feed.

Why it matters:

• Live coverage shows early performance of 2026‑spec cars, revealing any aero or power‑unit breakthroughs before the season starts.
• Teams use the Bahrain window to validate new parts, making every lap a potential clue to the competitive order.
• After a muted first‑week broadcast, full live TV restores fan engagement and maximises sponsor visibility.

The details:

• Dates & Times: 10:00‑19:00 local (Bahrain).
  GMT 07:00‑16:00 | CET 08:00‑17:00 | PST 23:00‑08:00 (prev‑day) | EST 02:00‑11:00 | JST 16:00‑01:00 (next‑day) | CST 15:00‑00:00 (next‑day).
• Broadcast: Sky Sports F1 airs the morning session 06:50‑11:05 GMT and the afternoon session 11:55‑16:10 GMT. A nightly "Testing Wrap" follows at 20:00 GMT.
• Streaming: F1 TV provides a worldwide live feed; regional broadcasters simul‑cast the same coverage.
• Live updates: Motorsport.com runs a live blog with on‑track timings, weather changes and driver feedback throughout each day.
• Teams & drivers: All ten‑team line‑ups are expected, including Audi’s new entry testing its chassis‑power‑unit integration.

What's next:

• Testing wraps two weeks before the season opener, the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park (6‑8 March).
• The 2026 calendar launches with a double‑header: Australia followed by the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai (13‑15 March).
• Insights from Bahrain will shape set‑ups and strategy as teams head into the first two races.