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F1 2026 Bahrain pre-season testing: How to watch, start times, everything you need to know
F1’s preparations for the new era and 2026 season accelerate with the initial pre-season test in Bahrain, featuring six days of running split across two three-day sessions to familiarize teams with their new cars.
The pre-season tests commence on Wednesday, February 11, running through Friday, February 13, with the second test scheduled a week later from February 18 to February 20 at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Teams will operate from 7am to 4pm UK time with an hour break for lunch, utilizing one car each day, allowing drivers to alternate and accumulate approximately 12 hours of track time per test.
These tests aim to simulate race weekends, allowing teams to adapt to the new rules, including features like Overtake Mode and Boost Mode, while assessing performance cautiously to maintain competitive strategies.
Viewers in the UK can observe the final hour of each testing day on Sky Sports F1, with full coverage available for the second Bahrain test, along with live timing on F1.com for real-time updates.
