A Formula 1 test in January, in the middle of winter, behind closed doors and with no media or fans in sight? ESPN fills you in on all you need to know ahead of Barcelona testing.

McLaren won't be one of the teams hitting the track first when F1 preseason testing starts in 2026. But it has planned for a late test debut

For Williams, being unable to take part in the first test days likely has major consequences that will be felt throughout the rest of the season. It’s a paradox. The very team that was first to halt development of the 2025 car to focus early on this year’s machine wasn’t ready with its F1 car in time for the first test in Barcelona.

Get the full Barcelona shakedown guide: private testing dates, session structure, rules changes, and how fans can catch the action ahead of the 2026 F1 season.

Arvid Lindblad suffered a nervy first run in his new Formula 1 car as he spun off track after just a few corners. Unfortunately for the British teenager, he did so right where a fan with a phone camera was watching from outside the confines of the Imola circuit in Italy, where Racing Bulls held a shakedown of their 2026 challenger on Tuesday.

F1 testing TV coverage will continue to be limited for the first Bahrain

F1s all-new 2026 cars will run together for the first time at a five-day event in Barcelona; Sky Sports F1s Bernie Collins answers the key questions; watch F1 2026: Barcelona Shakedown with Ted Kravit