P1racenews AI automatic summary:
F1 Testing 2026: All you need to know as Hamilton, Verstappen return to action
Lando Norris won the title in Abu Dhabi, but Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, and others will be back for F1 2026 testing starting this January. The new regulations have brought changes to the cars, including narrowed dimensions and increased electrical power, leading to three different tests in January and February. The first round will be at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with further testing in Bahrain. Despite teams revealing liveries, the 2026 car spec won’t be finalized until the end of the pre-season.
The Barcelona testing will occur from January 26 to January 30 with no live stream or media access, just a small F1 crew for interviews. No public timing data will be available, and concerns about fake content online have emerged. Bahrain testing will happen from February 11 to February 13, with live coverage on Sky Sports F1 and highlights on F1’s YouTube channel. All 11 F1 teams will test Pirelli 2026 tyres and adjust to the new car concepts during this testing period.
