Ferrari engines are already being fired up at the Bahrain International Circuit just days before the official Formula 1 test sessions, with two teams already running on track. On Wednesday, all eleven teams on the F1 grid will head out for the second pre-season testing session, this time in Bahrain. Next week, the teams will once again have three full days available to gather further data and refine their new cars. In Bahrain, however, Ferrari power units are already coming to life for a filming day.
Not all teams have yet unveiled the liveries that we will see on the grid at the Australian Grand Prix. During the Italian night, it was Cadillac’s turn, as the American team revealed its first official livery through a video broadcast during the Super Bowl. Today, 9 February 2026, it will be McLaren and Aston Martin’s turn to lift the covers on their new colour schemes.
Filming day
Following Cadillac’s high-profile launch, the team already appears to be on track at the Bahrain circuit, alongside the other Ferrari-powered outfit, Haas. According to Craig Slater, a reporter for Sky Sports F1, both teams are carrying out a filming day at the Sakhir venue.
The first hints had come from former Ferrari driver and current Cadillac reserve driver Zhou Guanyu, who shared an Instagram story showing the American team’s garage, where a glimpse of the new car’s livery could be seen. This detail confirmed that the image was not related to the Barcelona shakedown. On that occasion, in fact, Cadillac had appeared with a completely black livery.
Cadillac was not the only team to opt for such a strategy. McLaren also chose not to reveal its livery during the collective shakedown. Tomorrow, it will be the Papaya team’s turn to take to the Sakhir circuit to carry out the first filming day of the new season.
The early track activity in Sakhir marks a pivotal transition as Formula 1 moves from the speculative launch phase into the reality of the 2026 technical era. By leveraging filming days, Cadillac and Haas are gaining a head start on environmental correlation, ensuring that their Ferrari-powered challengers are optimized for the unique heat and dust of the Bahrain circuit. As the final liveries from McLaren and Aston Martin break cover, the full aesthetic of the 2026 grid is finally coming into focus. These preliminary laps are more than just promotional exercises; they are the final dress rehearsals for a season that promises to be the most unpredictable in recent memory. When the official lights go green on Wednesday, these extra kilometers in the desert could be the difference between a smooth start and an opening-day struggle.
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