The 2026 Formula 1 season officially begins in Barcelona with the first winter testing session of the year. Teams will have the opportunity to run on three of the five scheduled days, giving them flexibility to organize their programs according to their own strategy.
Teams can run three out of five days
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is ready to welcome the F1 teams for the first winter tests of 2026. From Monday, January 26 to Friday, January 30, each team will be able to take to the track on three days of their choice. This allows teams to manage their time efficiently while focusing on setup, reliability, and data collection for the new regulations.
The track will be officially open every day from 09:00 to 17:00, with the possibility of extending the session until 18:00 if weather conditions and daylight allow. This schedule ensures teams have maximum opportunity to complete their running and collect vital data before the official season begins.
Some teams will miss the opening day
Williams will not participate in the Barcelona tests, as the team is behind schedule following some issues during the crash tests of their 2026 car. Ferrari, McLaren, and Aston Martin have also announced that they will not run on the first day, instead starting their testing programs on Tuesday. These decisions are part of carefully planned strategies to optimize preparation for the new regulations.
Closed-door sessions and timing restrictions
It is important to note that the Barcelona test sessions are closed to the public, and no live-timing service will be provided. This means that lap times and performance data for drivers and teams will not be publicly available during the tests. Teams will focus purely on development work and internal analysis, making the sessions crucial for understanding the performance of the 2026 cars under real track conditions.
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