The 2026 Formula 1 season is upon us and with just six weeks until the first race in Australia, the teams are now preparing for a campaign of unknowns.
New regulations this season mean it is a clean slate for all 11 teams, with Cadillac the first new team on the grid since Haas in 2016. Audi have also taken over Sauber, with Ford partnering with Red Bull to build their own engines.
McLaren won both world championships last year, with Lando Norris claiming his first drivers’ title. Yet this season, Mercedes are rumoured to be the frontrunners, though we won’t know anything until we see the cars out on track.
This week’s test behind-closed-doors in Barcelona is the first of three pre-season sessions for the teams, with official tests in Bahrain next month (11-13 February and 18-20 February). However, Williams won’t be present this week due to delays to their car.
Follow live updates from F1 pre-season testing with The Independent.
F1 PRE-SEASON TESTING - LATEST UPDATES
- F1 pre-season testing starts in Barcelona on Monday through to Friday
- There will be eight hours of running each day (8am-5pm GMT) with a one-hour lunch break
- McLaren and Ferrari to feature on Tuesday
- Red Bull's Isack Hadjar was quickest on Monday; Russell 2nd; Colapinto 3rd
- Williams announced on Friday that they will not make this week's test due to 'delays'
McLaren and Ferrari on Tuesday
17:45 , Kieran JacksonWe’re set to see two giants of the sport on Tuesday in world champions McLaren and F1 titans Ferrari.
Join us again tomorrow morning at 8am (GMT) for more testing updates!
Esteban Ocon on Haas' day 1 of testing:
17:30 , Kieran Jackson“The aim is really to learn, to get mileage under the car, you know, see the weak points, what we have to improve really.
“First feel of things, so we are sure that we take the right development path and we are sure that we put the resources where it matters the most. Where it's the most bothering us, so you know, we'll try and put all that together for that end of the test.
“It's a long week, which is very good and then we have the chance to go back to Bahrain with hopefully, further step made, so that's the aim.”
Leaderboard after day one
17:15 , Kieran JacksonOnly nine drivers took part in running on Monday - here are their best times:
- Isack Hadjar - 1:18:159
- George Russell - 1:18:696
- Franco Colapinto - 1:20:189
- Kimi Antonelli - 1:20:70
- Esteban Ocon - 1:21:301
- Liam Lawson - 1:21:513
- Valtteri Bottas - 1:24:651
- Gabriel Bortoleto - 1:25:296
- Sergio Pérez - 1:25:974
Day one in Barcelona completed
17:06 , Kieran JacksonIsack Hadjar leads the way then after day one of testing in Barcelona!
The Red Bull driver set the fastest time with a 1:18:159 - half-a-second quicker than George Russell in second.
Franco Colapinto completes the top-three.
FIRST LOOK: Audi on track in Barcelona
16:50 , Kieran JacksonVolume up! 🔊
— Formula 1 (@F1) January 26, 2026
Here's a first look at Audi on track in Barcelona 👋#F1 pic.twitter.com/VVhJWvAAL9
Picture of Racing Bulls' 2026 car in Barcelona
16:40 , Kieran Jackson
Hadjar pips Russell
16:25 , Kieran JacksonWe’re hearing that Isack Hadjar has just taken back top spot on the timing screens with a 1:18:452 - two-tenths faster than Russell’s 1:18:696.
Closing minutes now...
Aston Martin update
16:15 , Kieran JacksonWhile Williams won’t be present in Barcelona this week, there were question marks surrounding Aston Martin’s involvement.
However, reports are coming in that Aston’s car - the first designed by Adrian Newey - will be shipped to Barcelona later this week, with the team targeting action on track on Thursday and Friday.
George Russell quickest with an hour left
16:00 , Kieran JacksonWho’s looking like the main winner from day one? Mercedes.
George Russell has just clocked the quickest time of the day - a 1:18:696 - two-tenths quicker than Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar in second.
We’re heading into the final hour now...
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu on day one:
15:45 , Kieran Jackson“In terms of mileage that we managed to do this morning [67 laps], it was really good,” the Haas boss said.
"But behind the scenes it’s a huge amount of work. I’m sure it’s the same for everyone, but to even make the shakedown and then do mileage was a huge task.
“That was Saturday and then coming from Fiorano to get us ready to run on Monday morning here and then to do 67 laps on day one morning was really good.
"So now we can start looking a bit more in the details. With this brand-new regulation, it’s very important to run. Every time we go out we learn something new.
"Obviously we've just got started, but I'm very, very happy with how we started.
F1 world champion odds:
15:30 , Kieran JacksonF1 Drivers Championship 2026
- George Russell - 23/10
- Max Verstappen - 3/1
- Lando Norris - 11/2
- Fernando Alonso - 15/2
- Oscar Piastri, Kimi Antonelli- 9/1
- Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton - 14/1
- Carlos Sainz - 55/1
- Lance Stroll - 66/1
- Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, Valtteri Bottas, Ollie Bearman, Isack Hadjar - 100/1
Valtteri Bottas on 'unique' day one F1 test
15:10 , Kieran Jackson“It’s great to be back!” Bottas said, having driven Cadillac’s car this morning.
“Also with this brand-new team in the sport, it’s a really unique situation. Really enjoyed getting back on track. This was the first time I drove this car so it was just good to be out there.
"Obviously performance-wise, I wouldn’t say much yet but the main thing is we got some running done and, at the end, we got a little bit of a longer run in too.
"So these are the first steps of de-bugging and getting everything to work better."
Latest F1 test timings
14:56 , Kieran JacksonWhile official timings have not been disclosed, we’re hearing that George Russell has set a fastest lap time which puts him second on the leaderboard for the day, a tenth down on Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar.
Top-8:
- Isack Hadjar - 1:18:835
- George Russell - 1:18:942
- Kimi Antonelli - 1:20:700
- Franco Colapinto - 1:21:348
- Liam Lawson - 1:21:513
- Esteban Ocon - 1:22:920
- Valtteri Bottas - 1:24:651
- Gabriel Bortoleto - 1:25:296
Red Bull's engine boss Ben Hodgkinson on first test:
14:40 , Kieran Jackson"The first test, always the challenge on a brand new set of regulations, is just track time,’ he said, ahead of this week’s test.
"I seem to remember in 2014 [when F1's hybrid engines were introduced and Hodgkinson was at Mercedes] that a lot of teams really struggled just to get the car round.
"And the team that ended up being dominant for that year [Mercedes] ended up just doing lap after lap after lap.
"So it is just trying to give the trackside team and the drivers just a clear run at it. So trouble-free is what the aim is."
Photos of the Mercedes W17
14:30 , Kieran Jackson
George Russell out on track
14:15 , Kieran JacksonMercedes have re-joined proceedings - and it’s Russell in the cockpit of the W17 this afternoon, instead of Kimi Antonelli.
Many have Russell as the favourite this year, given the rumours surrounding Mercedes’ engine advantage. Well, his 2026 preparations start here...
Haas first car out on track
14:05 , Kieran JacksonA slow resumption after lunch, but Esteban Ocon’s Haas is the first car out the blocks in the afternoon session...
Meanwhile, away from Barcelona...
13:55 , Kieran JacksonTeam kit shoot days 🎥 pic.twitter.com/aJ1e6UMoGE
— Atlassian Williams F1 Team (@WilliamsF1) January 26, 2026
Sergio Perez on Cadillac's F1 debut this year:
13:45 , Kieran Jackson"I definitely want to go all the way with this team," Perez told BBC’s F1: Back at Base podcast.
"I want to enjoy the journey with them and I'm pretty confident that we will be able to progress extremely quickly.
"Cadillac is here to do great things."
First photos of Red Bull cars
13:35 , Kieran JacksonIsack Hadjar and Liam Lawson - teammates last season - feature in these F1 photos of the Red Bull and Racing Bull cars in the pit-lane.
Cadillac F1 boss wades in on pre-season row: ‘We have a fully legal engine’
13:24 , Kieran JacksonCadillac team principal Graeme Lowdon is satisfied that his new F1 team have a “fully legal engine” via partners Ferrari amid the row brewing ahead of the 2026 season.
Last week, Red Bull’s engine boss said he “couldn’t understand” why a row had broken out, yet Cadillac team boss Lowdon, in charge of F1’s first new team since 2016, has thrown his support behind the Ferrari power unit his team will use this year.
Full story below:
Cadillac F1 boss wades in on pre-season row: ‘We have a fully legal engine’
Afternoon session starts
13:00 , Kieran JacksonAnd we’re a go with the next 4 hours of running in Barcelona!
No word yet on whether George Russell or Max Verstappen will appear for Mercedes and Red Bull respectively...
NEW: Nurburgring series moves March race to accommodate F1 star Max Verstappen
12:55 , Kieran JacksonThe 2026 Nurburgring racing series has moved its second round in March to accommodate the potential appearance of Max Verstappen at the event.
Four-time F1 world champion Verstappen obtained his A-licence last September to race the infamous 12.94-mile Nordschleife circuit, known as “The Green Hill.” He then won his first GT3 race a few weeks later.
Verstappen, 28, has admitted he would like to appear at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring event in May, which falls between F1 races in Miami and Montreal. However, the Dutchman acknowledged he needed to take part in one NLS (Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie) endurance race in order to be ready to compete in the 24-hour event.
Now, the series have announced that they’ve moved the second round of the 2026 NLS season by one week, to 21 March, to “enable top-tier drivers to compete.” The previous date, 28 March, clashed with F1’s Japanese Grand Prix.
Full story below:
Nurburgring series moves March race to accommodate Max Verstappen
ICYMI: Alpine confirm Christian Horner interest
12:40 , Kieran JacksonAlpine revealed on Sunday that former Red Bull boss Christian Horner is among a group interested in investing in the Formula 1 team.
Horner was sacked as team principal following July’s British Grand Prix before his official exit was agreed in September, leaving the 52-year-old free to return to the sport.
Alpine said it was “no secret” that Otro Capital had held preliminary talks to sell its stake in the team, which finished bottom of the constructors’ championship standings last season.
Full story below:
Christian Horner considers investment in Alpine after Red Bull exit
ICYMI: How Lewis Hamilton is making his mark at Ferrari. -‘This car has a clear direction’
12:20 , Kieran JacksonBy Kieran Jackson
Twelve months into his multi-year Ferrari contract, Lewis Hamilton’s re-emergence into the public domain on Friday did not carry the weight of giddiness and expectation of a year ago. In hindsight, perhaps the delirium of his debut season was a bit too much for all involved.
Yet 2026 is an open book – new regulations and potentially a new pecking order – and the first season in which Hamilton can fully stamp his imprint on a new-look car. Whether or not the boffins in Maranello have heeded the knowledge and experience of Hamilton’s 19 years in Formula 1, however, is another matter altogether.
Full piece below:
How Lewis Hamilton is making his mark at Ferrari: ‘This car has a clear direction’
Hadjar quickest this morning
12:09 , Kieran JacksonThe Red Bull driver has just gone quicker, setting a 1:18:835, nearly two seconds quicker than Kimi Antonelli (1:20:700) in second!
3. Franco Colapinto - 1:21:348
4. Liam Lawson - 1:21:864
5. Esteban Ocon - 1:24:520
6. Valtteri Bottas - 1:24:651
7. Gabriel Bortoleto - 1:25:296
And they’ve now broken for a lunch break.
Isack Hadjar sets the pace
11:50 , Kieran JacksonThe Red Bull driver has gone top of the standings in the last 30 mins or so, with a time of 1:20:300, according to reports.
Kimi Antonelli is four-tenths of a second off, as this morning’s session draws to a close.
Shoud be stressed how little should be read into times at this stage, given we don’t know what run-plans or tyre compounds the teams are prioritising. It’s mostly about reliability checks...
Audi announce signing of British driver
11:29 , Kieran JacksonAway from the Barcelona test, Audi have announced the signing of British driver Freddie Slater to their new driver development programme.
The 17-year-old will race in Formula 3 this season with Trident Motorsport.
Slater said: “Joining forces with a respected team like Trident Motorsport for Formula 3 and having the backing of Audi Revolut F1 Team is a massive opportunity. I am fully focused on working hard and making the most of this pivotal step towards my goal of reaching Formula One."
One hour left of morning session
11:05 , Kieran JacksonWith just an hour left before the lunch break, these are the lap times being widely reported on social media:
- Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes: 24 laps, 1:22.352
- Liam Lawson, VCARB: 20 laps, 1:23.113
- Isack Hadjar, Red Bull: 13 laps, 1:23.606
- Franco Colapinto, Alpine: 15 laps, 1:24.277
- Esteban Ocon, Haas: 31 laps, 1:25.060
- Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi: 27 laps, 1:25.296
- Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac: 10 laps. 1:31.853
Second red flag
10:55 , Kieran JacksonAudi’s Gabriel Bortoleto has stopped on the uphill final sector of the Barcelona circuit, around turn 11.
There are marshals on track who have wheeled the car away...
Not ideal for the new German team.
First red flag
10:29 , Kieran JacksonReports are coming in that we have our first red flag of 2026.
Franco Colapinto’s Alpine car is said to have stopped at the pit-exit.
A brief stoppage and we’re back to green-flag conditions...
Red Bull back on track
10:20 , Kieran JacksonHaving spent an hour in the garage between 9am-10am (GMT), Red Bull are back out on track.
We’re hearing Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli has set the fastest lap so far, a 1:22:352, but that’s unconfirmed.
Cadillac start their F1 journey
10:10 , Kieran JacksonA proud moment for F1’s 11th team this morning!
The journey begins for @Cadillac_F1 🌟#F1 pic.twitter.com/95ovhgfQVy
— Formula 1 (@F1) January 26, 2026
Happy birthday, Sergio Perez!
10:01 , Kieran JacksonThe Mexican driver, returning to F1 this year with Cadillac, is 36 today and present in Barcelona for this week’s test!
Haas reveal 2026 car leaving garage
09:40 , Kieran Jackson
Mercedes and Audi dominate first 90 minutes
09:40 , Kieran JacksonWe’re hearing Mercedes and Audi - the first two teams out on track this morning - are the teams who’ve been most present out on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this morning.
First sign of cars in the pit-lane!
09:20 , Kieran JacksonWe have our first video from F1 of cars in the pit-lane in Barcelona.
And the 2026 Shakedown is under way... 👀
— Formula 1 (@F1) January 26, 2026
Three teams waste no time in taking to the track!#F1 pic.twitter.com/nGNiHns8cs
Red Bull release images of actual 2026 F1 car
09:07 , Kieran JacksonWhile they unveiled their livery 10 days ago in Detroit, Red Bull have revealed photos of their actual 2026 car this morning, prior to the car being seen on track:
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McLaren chief designer Rob Marshall on the MCL40
08:55 , Kieran JacksonMarshall, formerly of Red Bull, is the man credited for McLaren’s championship-winning car last year:
"I think what you see is probably pretty much what we'll bring to the first race. A lot of our effort will be going into understanding this. Also we need to take into account what the opposition are up to.
“We need to be inspired by what they may or may not achieve, and may or may not show us. We really are going to have to be very focused on getting our heads around these cars. It's very complicated. It's all new.
“There's a lot of stuff that we need to dial in and tune in, so I think bringing a lot of new stuff to it early doors would complicate things, and I think we're better off understanding our platform before we get too keen on redesigning it before it's turned a wheel."
PICTURES: McLaren's shakedown livery
08:50 , Kieran JacksonThis is what we’ll see on track from the reigning champions this week.
McLaren unveil their actual 2026 livery on Monday 9 February, prior to the second test in Bahrain.
All 7 teams out on track
08:44 , Kieran JacksonThe teams we know are running today have all started their programmes today, so I’m told, in the first half-an-hour.
Mercedes the first out... making an early statement, perhaps?!
What teams are on track today?
08:40 , Kieran JacksonThe teams we’re expecting on track today are as follows:
- Mercedes
- Red Bull
- Audi
- Racing Bulls
- Cadillac
- Haas
- Alpine
Ferrari and McLaren will drive tomorrow. Aston Martin’s participation - and when - is unknown while Williams will not be present this week.
Franco Colapinto and Kimi Antonelli first cars out on track
08:30 , Kieran JacksonTwo Mercedes powered cars, with Alpine ditching their engine programme and taking Mercdes power units from this season, are the first 2026 cars out on track in Barcelona.
Audi are also out on track in their debut season.
What info will we receive today?
08:19 , Kieran JacksonGiven it’s the first time the 10 teams taking part will trial their new cars, we’re expecting a sparsity of information throughout the day.
The F1 teams will be issuing up to 12 images a day (6 of the cars, and 6 of other aspects of the day e.g. the garage, personnel etc) and will also be putting out a three-minute social media video.
F1 will be posting content on their social and digital channels as well as capturing interviews. Lap times will be shared at the end of the day while Sky Sports will air a highlights package every day at 9pm.
Other than that, we’ll be keeping an eye out for onlookers in Barcelona able to sneak a view through the fencing!
Red Bull unveil their RB22 car:
08:11 , Kieran JacksonThis is what we’ll see this week in Barcelona.
You've seen the livery, time to meet RB22 💙#F1 || #RedBullRacing pic.twitter.com/wSFycHutVY
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) January 26, 2026
TESTING BEGINS!
08:00 , Kieran JacksonHere we go - Formula 1 pre-season testing is underway!
What are the pre-season dates?
07:55 , Kieran JacksonAfter Barcelona, there will then be two official pre-season tests in Bahrain on 11-13 February and 18-20 February.
The 2026 season starts with the Australian Grand Prix on 8 March.
Christian Horner announces ‘exciting’ new venture ahead of 2026 F1 season
07:45 , Kieran JacksonChristian Horner has announced a speaking tour in Australia ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
The former Red Bull F1 boss, who was sacked last summer after leading the team for 20 years since its inception, received a reported £80m pay-off as part of the terms of his exit.
Horner, 52, can return to the sport from this spring and is eyeing a route back into the paddock, with French team Alpine the most likely destination.
However, a week before the 2026 season starts in Australia on 8 March, the British executive is embarking on a new challenge: a three-day speaking tour down under.
Full piece below:
Christian Horner announces ‘exciting’ new venture ahead of 2026 F1 season
Where can I watch pre-season test?
07:30 , Kieran JacksonAs it is a private event, the test will not be broadcast or streamed on TV or online.
However, Sky Sports F1’s YouTube channel will show brief highlights every night at 9pm, with F1’s usual set of cameras present at the Barcelona circuit.
The FIA have confirmed that lap times will be published at the end of each day, too.
Williams make shock call to miss first F1 2026 test after ‘delays’ in car development
07:15 , Kieran JacksonWilliams have withdrawn from the private F1 pre-season test in Barcelona following “delays” to their car development programme.
James Vowles’s outfit, who boast an impressive driver pairing in Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, have long targeted 2026 and this new set of regulations as a year to work their way up the pecking order.
Yet following reports that the team’s 2026 car, the FW48, had failed the FIA’s mandatory crash tests, the team confirmed on Friday that they will not be present at the shakedown event for all 11 teams next week.
How Lewis Hamilton is making his mark at Ferrari: ‘This car has a clear direction’
07:05 , Kieran JacksonBy Kieran Jackson
Twelve months into his multi-year Ferrari contract, Lewis Hamilton’s re-emergence into the public domain on Friday did not carry the weight of giddiness and expectation of a year ago. In hindsight, perhaps the delirium of his debut season was a bit too much for all involved.
Yet 2026 is an open book – new regulations and potentially a new pecking order – and the first season in which Hamilton can fully stamp his imprint on a new-look car. Whether or not the boffins in Maranello have heeded the knowledge and experience of Hamilton’s 19 years in Formula 1, however, is another matter altogether.
Full piece below:
How Lewis Hamilton is making his mark at Ferrari: ‘This car has a clear direction’
What are the timings in Barcelona?
06:58 , Kieran JacksonThe private ‘shakedown’ event for the teams will take place over five days, Monday-Friday, starting at 8am (GMT) and finishing at 5pm (GMT), with a one-hour lunch break at midday (GMT).
With eight hours of running a day, and teams able to run on a maximum of three days, teams could gather up to 24 hours of invaluable data for the season ahead.
F1 pre-season testing:
06:55 , Kieran JacksonThe 2026 Formula 1 season is upon us and with just six weeks until the first race in Australia, the teams are now preparing for a campaign of unknowns.
New regulations this season mean it is a clean slate for all 11 teams, with Cadillac the first new team on the grid since Haas in 2016. Audi have also taken over Sauber, with Ford partnering with Red Bull to build their own engines.
McLaren won both world championships last year, with Lando Norris claiming his first drivers’ title. Yet this season, Mercedes are rumoured to be the frontrunners, though we won’t know anything until we see the cars out on track.
This week’s test behind-closed-doors in Barcelona is the first of three pre-season sessions for the teams, with official tests in Bahrain next month (11-13 February and 18-20 February). However, Williams won’t be present this week due to delays to their car.
