F1 Preseason Calendar: Key Testing Dates Before Australian Round
Formula 1's new era will officially begin with the 2026 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, from March 6 to 8.
Before the true racing action starts, there will be three key preseason tests for teams to work around the issues generated by the huge changes in aerodynamics and power unit layout.
Big Testing Plan for Big Rule Changes
The 2026 F1 cars will look and act very differently. To help teams get ready, and as a difference from last year, there will be more track time than usual in preseason to sort out all the new changes.
First Test: Private Days in Spain
The testing work starts in private. All 10 teams will head to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain for five days of testing from January 26 to 30.
No fans or live timing will be there. This is where teams can try things, make mistakes, and learn about their new cars without everyone watching.
Two Final Tests in Bahrain
Next, everyone flies to Bahrain for the final checks. The first test is for three days, from February 11 to 13.
One week later, they will be back on the same track for one last test. This final session runs from February 18 to 20. These are the last days to fix problems and find speed before the racing begins.
What are your predictions ahead of the exciting 2026 F1 season? Will the racing improve?
4 F1 Fan comments on “F1 Preseason Calendar: Key Testing Dates Before Australian Round”
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instead of sacking the qualy for sunday race and sacking sunday race to score point, we should have a better scorecard.
To my understanding, each day's final position order will be published & people will definitely capture footage of cars via drones that can be operated from a distance or from perfect vantage points, as already happened with Audi's shakedown run.
Too early for definitive predictions, but I’ll probably lean towards either McLaren driver or Russell after the final test, & racing quality should improve with better following ability, although reality can always prove different.
If there was a cap on the piston that expanded under heat, slightly less diameter than cylinder so as not to cause obvious problems.
Hang on, there could be a cap on the cylinder..