This season, F1 faces one of its biggest overhauls yet, with revamped engines, sustainable fuels, and entirely new aerodynamics. Cars are expected to have teething issues, making early track time essential to work out any kinks.
The Barcelona shakedown, running from January 26–30 behind closed doors, offers teams a chance to rack up mileage before the full testing program. However, some teams are already raising eyebrows: McLaren and Ferrari won’t run on day one, while Williams is skipping the event entirely. These absences are framed as “planned additional development time,” and it’s still too early to judge, they may simply be well-prepared without needing the early laps.
No McLaren, Williams, or Ferrari on day one
Missing the first full day of testing naturally raises questions. Williams is the most notable absentee, having paused development on last year’s car early. Instead of Spain, they’ll run internal and virtual track tests, aiming to be ready for February’s sessions in Bahrain. McLaren and Ferrari are less concerning. Andrea Stella noted that “every day of development, every day of design, was adding a little bit of performance,” and both teams plan to run later during the shakedown. Teams are allowed to run for three of the five days, so McLaren and Ferrari won’t miss crucial mileage. Fred Vasseur confirmed Ferrari will run the SF-26 on day two, adjusting for weather forecasts.
Teams’ approaches to F1’s new era
Different teams have taken varied approaches to launching their 2026 cars. Cadillac and Audi have been cautious and have stage-managed their reveals. Alpine’s new car launch aboard a ship was largely a livery reveal, while Red Bull changed its traditional colours. Haas released a render featuring Toyota TGR branding.
Motorsports Photo
Ferrari and Mercedes have already tested on-track, with Mercedes covering 200 km on their new engine. Early filming days showed well-developed parts, including Ferrari’s jagged engine cover. Red Bull has done short runs at Imola, but longer mileage in Barcelona will reveal more about reliability and performance.
What to expect in Barcelona
Unlike private filming days, the Barcelona shakedown allows longer runs without mileage or tyre restrictions, letting teams test key systems, power units, and compare simulations with reality. While not a full-on track action spectacle, teams are restricted to three days of running and methodical setup work; the shakedown offers insights into reliability and development progress ahead of Bahrain testing on February 11–13 and 18–20.
