The 2026 Formula 1 winter tests will begin at the end of January, officially marking the start of the new regulatory era. The calendar includes three distinct sessions: one in Europe and two in the Middle East. The first will take place at the Montmelò circuit in Barcelona, chosen for its variable weather conditions, ideal for initial evaluations. Subsequent sessions will move to the more predictable climate of Bahrain.
Barcelona tests will be behind closed doors
The Catalan round will introduce a significant change compared to previous years: it will be held entirely behind closed doors. No public and, most importantly, no cameras will be allowed in the paddock or on track. These will be private collective tests scheduled over five days, but each F1 team can only participate in three of the available days.
This first session will mainly serve to familiarize teams with the new cars and next-generation power units. Teams anticipate potential reliability issues, inevitable at the start of a completely new technical cycle. It is also possible that initial performance will not be optimal, particularly in terms of top speed. For this reason, every kilometer completed in Barcelona will be crucial for identifying potential weaknesses.
In addition to the need for teams to analyze early data, the Spanish session will allow the FIA to gather information for possible regulatory adjustments. Before the official on-track debut, the goal is to prevent situations that could compromise safety or competitiveness. The Montmelò tests will therefore serve as a technical proving ground more than a performance showcase. The controlled conditions will allow teams to work without media pressure.
F1 2026, Max Verstappen: “We’ll spend more time in the garage than on track”
The following two sessions in Bahrain will follow the traditional format of recent seasons: three days of collective testing per session, with constant track monitoring and public attendance. Here, teams will experiment with more advanced setups after resolving any issues that arose in Spain. These tests will provide the first real performance comparisons, even if still far from race conditions.
The transition from Montmelò to Bahrain will also serve as an initial indicator of the true potential of the new cars. With temperatures closer to typical race conditions, the data collected will offer a more reliable assessment of performance. Even at this stage, reliability will remain a critical factor for every manufacturer.
No team can afford to waste valuable time in the garage. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen summed up the situation, highlighting the risk of downtime during the first session due to technical uncertainties. His words reflect the paddock’s cautious mindset: “During the first testing session in Barcelona, we’ll spend more time in the garage than in the car.” A clear sign of the complexities awaiting teams at the start of the new, already highly debated, regulatory era.
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