F1 2026 Testing Live: Ferrari and McLaren Unveil New Cars in Barcelona
Kieran Jackson, Formula 1 Correspondent
Tuesday 27 January 2026 07:45 GMT
The 2026 Formula 1 season is officially upon us, with just six weeks remaining until the first race in Australia. Teams are now gearing up for a campaign filled with unknowns, as new regulations create a clean slate for all eleven competitors. This week's behind-closed-doors test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya marks the first of three pre-season sessions, offering a crucial glimpse of the 2026 cars on track.
New Teams and Major Changes
Significant shifts are reshaping the grid for the 2026 season. Cadillac joins as the first new team since Haas in 2016, while Audi has taken over Sauber. Additionally, Ford has partnered with Red Bull to develop their own engines, adding to the competitive landscape. McLaren, who secured both world championships last year with Lando Norris claiming his maiden drivers' title, face fresh challenges. Rumours suggest Mercedes may emerge as frontrunners this season, though definitive insights will only come once the cars hit the track.
Testing Schedule and Absences
This private 'shakedown' event in Barcelona runs from Monday to Friday, starting at 8am GMT and concluding at 5pm GMT daily, with a one-hour lunch break at midday. Teams can accumulate up to 24 hours of invaluable data over a maximum of three days. However, Williams will be absent this week due to car delays, and Aston Martin's involvement was uncertain. Reports indicate Aston Martin's car, the first designed by Adrian Newey, is expected to arrive later in the week, targeting track action on Thursday and Friday.
Leaderboard and Highlights
After the first day of testing, only nine drivers participated, with Isack Hadjar leading the pack with a fastest time of 1:18:159. George Russell followed closely in second place, half-a-second behind, and Franco Colapinto rounded out the top three. Other notable times included Esteban Ocon and Liam Lawson, while Sergio Pérez trailed at the bottom of the list.
Esteban Ocon commented on Haas' first day, emphasising the focus on learning and identifying areas for improvement. He stated, "The aim is really to learn, to get mileage under the car, see the weak points, what we have to improve. We'll try and put all that together for the end of the test."
Upcoming Sessions and Official Tests
Following this week's test, official pre-season sessions are scheduled in Bahrain next month, from 11-13 February and 18-20 February. Tuesday's action will feature world champions McLaren and F1 titans Ferrari, with updates continuing tomorrow morning at 8am GMT. Stay tuned for more live coverage as teams fine-tune their 2026 contenders in preparation for the season ahead.
