The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will remain on the F1 calendar through 2032, hosting the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix in 2028, 2030, and 2032 as part of a rotational deal with Spa-Francorchamps. This secures the future of the historic Spanish track after it lost its exclusive Spanish Grand Prix status to Madrid.
F1 teams have outlined their driver plans for the second week of pre-season testing in Bahrain. The schedule reveals a strategic mix, with established stars like Verstappen and Hamilton sharing track time with rookies such as Antonelli and Hadjar, as all ten squads complete their final preparations under the new 2026 regulations.
Lewis Hamilton starts F1 2026 with a new interim race engineer at Ferrari after a difficult 2025 with Riccardo Adami. Former Ferrari engineer Rob Smedley emphasizes the critical 50/50 balance of technical and human skills in the role, stressing that instant, confident communication is vital because "this isn't a call center."
David Coulthard calls Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari without any Mercedes engineers 'absolutely fascinating,' as the team races to finalize his new race engineer just weeks before the 2026 season begins, highlighting the critical importance of that partnership.
Jenson Button has issued a stark assessment of Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari future, stating the 2026 season is a critical 'make-or-break' year. The 2009 champion believes if Hamilton cannot successfully influence the car and find form with the new regulations, it may signal the end of his championship-contending days.
Audi has signed former F2 driver Ralph Boschung to its new Driver Development Programme in a surprise move, bringing the Swiss racer out of apparent retirement to provide technical feedback and mentorship alongside young prospect Freddie Slater.
Mercedes driver George Russell says the Bahrain pre-season test was a reality check, with Red Bull's impressive performance establishing them as the clear team to beat heading into the new F1 season.
A surprising consensus from F1 testing suggests reigning champions McLaren may be fourth fastest among the top teams for 2026, behind Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull. Data and team comments point to a potential early knowledge gap for customer teams adapting to the new regulations, but the picture remains highly uncertain with more testing to come.
Ferrari's Frederic Vasseur expects Max Verstappen's criticism of F1's 2026 cars to fade quickly once racing begins, arguing a driver's core focus is always on beating rivals. He compared the reaction to the successful 2022 regulation launch and emphasized Ferrari's benefit from working without external scrutiny.
The final F1 pre-season test in Bahrain begins, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen missing Day 1 and Haas splitting running between Ocon and Bearman. The three-day session is the last chance for teams to prepare their cars before the season opener.
McLaren's Andrea Stella urges F1 to prioritize safety over competition, highlighting three key concerns with 2026 cars: risky race starts due to turbo lag, severely limited overtaking, and dangerous lift-and-coast scenarios. He calls for immediate fixes before the season begins.
A look at the packed Australian motorsport scene post-Bathurst 12 Hour and ahead of the Supercars opener in Sydney, coupled with analysis of surprising trends emerging from Formula 1's pre-season test in Bahrain.
