F1 teams asked to use plain or camouflaged liveries for secretive 2026 Barcelona test

Formula 1 teams have received an unusual directive to run their 2026 cars in either plain or camouflaged liveries for a crucial, closed-door pre-season test in Barcelona, aiming to keep the new designs under wraps until the official televised tests in Bahrain.

The first on-track running of the radically new 2026 cars will occur behind closed doors at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from January 26-30. With sweeping new chassis and power unit regulations marking one of the biggest technical overhauls in the sport's history, the test is designed to allow teams to troubleshoot their new machines away from public and competitor scrutiny. The livery request ensures the first visual reveal of the cars in their 2026 colors happens during the lucrative, televised sessions in Bahrain.

Why it matters:

This controlled approach to revealing the 2026 cars underscores the immense commercial and competitive stakes involved in the new regulatory era. Bahrain, which pays a significant fee to host testing, benefits from the spectacle of a full reveal. For the teams, the secretive Barcelona session provides a rare, pressure-free environment to develop what are essentially entirely new machines with minimal carry-over from previous years, a critical advantage given the scale of the challenge.

The details:

• The Barcelona test is a five-day event where each team can run on any three of those days, offering flexible troubleshooting time.
• Media Blackout: Official footage and content from the test are expected to be heavily restricted, likely limited to social media posts and short driver interviews without any on-track visuals, as teams and F1 finalize their media protocols.
• Following Tests: After Barcelona, teams will head to Bahrain for two official pre-season tests: the first on February 11-13 and the second on February 18-20, where the cars will be revealed in full race livery.
• Teams like Williams are engaging fans by offering a vote on the test livery design they will use in both Barcelona and the first Bahrain test, navigating the unusual request.

The big picture:

The 2026 regulations represent a fundamental shift. The cars will be shorter and lighter to promote closer racing. The power units will focus roughly 50% on electrical energy, and chassis design will introduce moveable aerodynamics and different power modes intended to boost overtaking and ultimately replace the DRS system. A 3D-printed model of the 2026 car spec was displayed in Abu Dhabi to help broadcasters and fans understand the new look and technical philosophy ahead of the launch.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Bahrain in February for the first true glimpse of the 2026 grid in color. The success of the Barcelona shakedown in identifying and solving early reliability issues will be crucial, as teams have a very short timeline to refine these completely new packages before the competitive season begins. The effectiveness of these secretive tests could set the early competitive order for the new era.