«Surreal» to see number 1 on my car as McLaren kicks off F1 2026 testing
Lando Norris says driving around as the reigning Formula 1 world champion was a «surreal» feeling as he took to the track in Barcelona for a day of discovering his 2026 McLaren MCL40. McLaren delayed its start to pre-season testing until Wednesday, the third of five shakedown days at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya. With […]
Williams missed Barcelona F1 test due to production delays, denies significant weight issue
Williams Formula 1 team boss James Vowles says it is «incredibly painful» for his squad to miss out the Barcelona shakedown test this week, but denies rumours the team’s car will be significantly overweight. Last week Williams abandoned its plans to attend F1’s first testing opportunity of the 2026 pre-season in Barcelona, losing three days […]
What happened on day two of F1’s secret 2026 test
The second day of Formula 1’s secretive ‘shakedown week’ at the Circuit de Catalunya proved much quieter as only two teams took to the track. Ferrari, like McLaren, had signalled its intention to miss the opening day but the reigning constructors’ champion also did not appear on the second. Each team is permitted three days […]
Red Bull undecided on third Barcelona F1 test day after «very unfortunate» Hadjar crash
The Red Bull Formula 1 team is still evaluating its plans for a final day of Barcelona running after Isack Hadjar suffered a crash with the new RB22 on Tuesday. In tricky wet conditions, Hadjar spun backwards into the wall at Barcelona’s final corner, damaging the rear of Red Bull’s 2026 challenger in the process […]
Hadjar surprised by Red Bull F1 engine: «More laps than expected»
The first serious test for Red Bull Ford Powertrains – following an earlier filming day for Racing Bulls at Imola – has gone largely according to plan. Liam Lawson caused a red flag at the start of the lunch break, but still completed 88 laps in his Racing Bulls.Max Verstappen was not behind the wheel […]
What happened behind closed doors on day one of F1’s secretive 2026 shakedown
Formula 1’s shakedown week began on a crisp but chilly day at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with Mercedes’ W17 emerging from the garages first in the hands of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, followed in short order by Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto.Both Bortoleto and Colapinto would later be delayed with technical issues but the […]
Different, «but still a racing car» — Drivers share early verdict on F1’s 2026 cars
Other than a few short filming runs, day one of Barcelona’s five-day shakedown was the first real opportunity for Formula 1 drivers to put the brand-new 2026 generation of cars to the test.Seven of the 11 teams made it out on day one, with Williams forced to skip the week completely and Aston Martin scrambling […]
Audi signs Slater as first academy driver
Audi has signed reigning Formula Regional European champion Freddie Slater as its Driver Development Programme’s first member.Audi has taken over the Sauber Formula 1 outfit after completing its acquisition in 2024 and announced on Friday it was launching its own academy, managed by former F1 driver and three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Allan McNish […]
Why the first 2026 F1 test is really being held in secret – and what to expect
The human brain is hard-wired to greet changes and unexpected circumstances with a stress response: the amygdalae, biochemical arbiters of the fight-or-flight instinct, flag the change as a threat.This is just one deep seated explanation for the orgy of negativity that has surrounded the 2026 Formula 1 regulations and their introduction, from drivers hating their […]