When is each staff working in first F1 2026 take a look at and why Williams are lacking

The primary of three F1 pre-season assessments kick off in Barcelona subsequent week. Right here’s every thing it’s worthwhile to learn about it.

On account of the most important regulation shake-up in current F1 historical past, three pre-season assessments will happen earlier than the opening spherical in Australia on 8 March.

The primary of those is a collective shakedown on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain.

The primary take a look at will run between 26-30 January and be held in personal to allow groups and drivers to familiarize yourself with their all-new F1 vehicles away from prying eyes and scrutiny of followers and the world’s media.

All 11 F1 groups are allowed three days of working out of the five-day window.

Right here’s what we all know thus far about which groups will run when…

Williams – Lacking whole take a look at

Williams introduced on Friday that they won’t participate within the opening week of testing at Barcelona after encountering delays with the event of their FW48 automobile.

The choice means Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz won’t get to drive Williams’ 2026 automobile till the primary official pre-season take a look at in Bahrain on 11-13 February.

“Williams F1 Group has taken the choice to not take part in subsequent week’s shakedown take a look at in Barcelona following delays within the FW48 programme as we proceed to push for optimum automobile efficiency,” a press release from the Grove-based outfit learn.

“The staff will as an alternative conduct a collection of assessments together with a VTT [Virtual Test Track] programme subsequent week with the 2026 automobile to arrange for the primary official take a look at in Bahrain and the primary race of the season in Melbourne.

“We’re wanting ahead to getting on monitor within the coming weeks and need to thank all our followers to your continued assist – there’s a lot to sit up for collectively in 2026.”

The numerous blow to Williams’ 2026 preparations is harking back to when the staff’s automobile was late to pre-season testing again in 2019. Again then Williams had been in monetary strife however fortunately issues have since modified below the possession of Dorilton Capital.

McLaren – To affix on day two or three

McLaren will miss at least the primary day of working in Barcelona, and will even delay working their 2026 F1 automobile till the third day of motion.

Group principal Andrea Stella defined the choice was strategic and aimed toward maximising the event of the MCL40

“This was all the time going to be plan A,” Stella informed media together with Crash.web. “There’s a lot of a change that we do not should be essentially the primary on monitor.

“We wished to present as a lot time as doable for improvement, as a result of every single day of improvement, every single day of design, was including somewhat little bit of efficiency.

“If you’re early on monitor, you’ll have the reassurance of understanding what it’s worthwhile to know as quickly as doable.

“However on the similar time, it means you might need dedicated to the design and the realisation of the automobile comparatively early, so you’ll have compromised in opposition to improvement time and supreme efficiency.

“Clearly there will probably be updates just about for each automobile between testing and the primary race. However we thought that, within the financial system of a season, it was essential to start out and launch the automobile in essentially the most aggressive package deal and configuration.

“That is why we pushed all of the timing to the restrict, however inside a really manageable restrict. We did not really feel any urge to plan for testing on day one.”

Ferrari – To affix on day two

Ferrari will be part of McLaren in skipping the opening day of the shakedown.

The Italian outfit are set to affix the take a look at on day two and likewise plan to run their 2026 automobile on Thursday, the penultimate day.

Ferrari are but to determine whether or not to finish their third day of permitted working on Wednesday or Friday.

Talking after the disclosing of their SF-26 challenger at Fiorano on Friday, Ferrari staff principal Fred Vasseur confirmed: “We are going to begin the take a look at on Tuesday after which with the regulation we determine which days we run from Thursday however Thursday may even be on monitor.

“With this new regulation it is going to be all about enchancment, studying course of, improvement and this is the reason we’re in love with F1.”

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc shook down the SF-26 at Fiorano on Friday. 

Audi – To start out on day one

Audi intend to be able to roll out of their storage at 9am on the primary day of the Barcelona take a look at.

This comes after they had been the primary F1 staff to conduct a shakedown take a look at after they ran their R26 at Barcelona on 9 January.

Explaining the choice to get out of the blocks early, Audi technical director James Key stated: “This was a call made about 18 months in the past, so we type of knew this was coming.

“It wasn’t a final minute factor. However no, we wished to – as one among solely two new guys on the block with this – you actually do want a monitor reference. And we agreed with our energy unit colleagues that we attempt to hit the monitor as rapidly as we will.”

The remainder of the groups are but to announce which days they are going to run on, however Cadillac, Racing Bulls, Alpine and Mercedes have already performed a shakedown with their new vehicles.