F1 reveals plan for private first preseason test in 2026
Formula One has revealed its plan to holds its first preseason test in 2026 behind closed doors, giving teams a first chance to sample their overhauled car designs in private.
As reported by The Athletic earlier this month, the first outing of the all-new cars for 2026 — featuring new power units and active aerodynamics — is scheduled to take place across five days at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain at the end of January.
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Teams will be able to take part on three of the five days of the shakedown, which both F1 and the FIA confirmed on Monday would be held from Jan. 26-30 next year.
But the shakedown is going to be held entirely behind closed doors, with no plans for the running to be broadcast, or for fans or the media to be allowed to attend, meaning it can take place in private.
Teams have struck their own agreements with the track on the outskirts of Barcelona to complete the test running, meaning F1 will only be responsible for the timing data.
The move will maintain a degree of intrigue over the new car designs, and the pecking order among the teams which is set to be considerably shaken up in what is the greatest technical change in F1 for a generation.
The test will also be where the new Cadillac team can make its official on-track debut with its car after getting the green light to join the grid for 2026.
A better idea of the competitive picture will come with the first public outings of the new F1 cars will come with the official test running in Bahrain a couple of weeks later in February.
The first three-day test is scheduled for Feb. 11-13, while the second test will be held from Feb. 18-20 at the Bahrain International Circuit.
The change in the technical regulations for this year has resulted in teams getting increased preseason running. In each of the past three seasons, preseason testing has only run for three days, which teams typically split by giving each of its drivers one-and-a-half days each of running.
Following the final test in Bahrain, which starts following the commencement of Ramadan, teams will then make the trip to Australia for the opening round of the 24-race season on March 8.
Another update from F1 and the FIA confirmed the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will take place on Saturday next year, moving a day forward from its originally-planned date of Sept. 27, which is the nation's Remembrance Day.
A statement read: 'Following a request from the Azerbaijan promoter and relevant government stakeholders, FIA and Formula 1 have agreed to move the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix from Sunday 27th September to Saturday 26th to accommodate a national day.
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'All the F1 teams have been informed of this change, which will mean each day of the event will move one day earlier.'
F1 has recent history in moving races to a Saturday, having shifted both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia from their usual Sunday slot in 2024 in order to create an extra one-day buffer before the start of Ramadan.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix has also been kept on a Saturday night slot since joining the calendar in 2023.
(Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images)
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