Red Bull and Mercedes led the field during the first day of F1's 2026 shakedown test in Barcelona, while Cadillac made its official on-track debut alongside the established grid.
Isack Hadjar completed a productive first day in Red Bull's RB22, setting the unofficial fastest time with the team's new in-house engine. The Frenchman praised the car's drivability and reliability despite initial concerns.
Isack Hadjar topped the timesheets for Red Bull on the first day of private testing in Barcelona, leading a Mercedes challenge while Audi and Cadillac faced early reliability struggles.
Isack Hadjar set the pace on the opening day of 2026 pre-season testing in Barcelona, while Sergio Perez completed his first laps for Cadillac.
Valtteri Bottas describes Cadillac's opening 2026 test as a 'debugging' phase, noting that all teams faced issues with the new, lighter, and more electric regulations.
Aston Martin will skip the opening day of Barcelona testing, aiming to debut the Adrian Newey-designed AMR26 later this week.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast for the second day of F1 pre-season testing in Barcelona, potentially limiting track time. Teams like Aston Martin and Williams might benefit from the disrupted schedule.
Ferrari is reportedly seeking a former McLaren engineer to replace Riccardo Adami as Lewis Hamilton's race engineer, aiming for a fresh start for the 2026 season.
Isack Hadjar led Red Bull to the top of the timesheet on the first day of 2026 pre-season testing in Barcelona, outpacing Mercedes' George Russell as new teams Cadillac and Audi took to the track.
The Nürburgring Langstrecken‑Serie moved its second round to March 21, 2026, clearing a clash with F1 and giving Max Verstappen a chance to race. His past GT4 and GT3 outings, plus a licensing rethink, make this a key step toward future endurance ambitions.
The UK Charity Commission has launched an investigation into the FIA Foundation regarding governance issues and potential conflicts of interest with the FIA. A temporary protective order has been issued restricting trustee transactions as the inquiry examines the charity's administration and grant management.
Flavio Briatore revealed he only rejoined Alpine on the condition they switched to Mercedes power units for 2026, aiming to eliminate the team's performance deficit.
