Formula 1 teams will have many more test days leading up to the 2026 season, the organization and motorsport federation FIA confirmed on Monday. There will be a total of eleven days, compared to three this year.
The first series of five days is from January 26 to 30 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and is private. This will be followed by two public three-day tests at the Sakhir Circuit in Bahrain (from February 11 to 13 and from February 18 to 20).
The extra test days are necessary because the Formula 1 cars will change significantly next year. There will be a completely new hybrid engine that uses sustainable fuel and is largely electric. Teams will have more time to fix engine or chassis problems due to the many changes.
In recent years, testing has only taken place in Bahrain. In the distant past, this only happened in Barcelona.
The new Formula 1 season will start in the weekend of March 6 to 8, 2026 with the Australian Grand Prix.