F1 announces pre-season testing schedule for new 2026 era

Formula 1 has announced the pre-season testing schedules ahead of the 2026 season, in which teams will give their cars, with brand new regulations, their first on-track running.

Next year sees the introduction of new rules, which threaten to shake up the current order of the grid, with much intrigue as to which teams will have interpreted them best.

As well as a reduction in the size of the cars, there will also be a more equal split between internal combustion and electric power.

F1 has officially confirmed the schedule, which begins at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya between 26-30 January.

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There will then be a gap of just under two weeks, and teams will travel to Bahrain for the first of two separate programmes, the first between February 11-13.

The second three-day programme will commence five days later on Feburary 18, before racing action begins on the weekend of March 6-8 at Albert Park in Australia.

2026 will once again be another blockbuster 24-race schedule, which sees all circuits bar Imola retained, with the inaugural Madrid Grand Prix taking its place.

Azerbaijan date change sees Saturday race day

F1 also announced a date change, which sees the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku moved from Sunday 27 September to Saturday 26, in order to accommodate a national day in the country.

The official announcement stated: “All the F1 teams have been informed of this change, which will mean each day of the event will move one day earlier.”

2026 will see a number of key matters which dovetail with the new regulations, including the first Aston Martin to be designed by Adrian Newey.

There will also be debuts for the works Audi team – transitioned from Sauber – and Cadillac, the newest American squad on the grid, which extends the grid from 20 to 22 cars.

READ MORE – Charles Leclerc delivers damning view on 2026 F1 car after initial simulation run