F1 2026: Red Bull, Mercedes and More Hit the Track as New Era Begins at Barcelona Shakedown
F1 2026 begins at the Barcelona shakedown as Red Bull, Mercedes and others test new-era cars, with early running, mileage focus and teams preparing for Bahrain.
By Divyam Dubey
The 2026 Formula 1 season finally got moving as teams rolled out their new cars at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for a private shakedown. This was the first proper look at how the new-era F1 machines behave on real tarmac after months of design work and simulator running. With fresh power unit rules and big technical changes coming into play, Barcelona became the starting point for everything that follows this year. The test took place behind closed doors, with no fans or media present, keeping the action largely under wraps. Running programmes stayed controlled, with teams focusing on system checks, installation laps and reliability work rather than pushing for lap times.
Also Read: F1 2026: Actual Red Bull RB22 Revealed, Begins Tests at Barcelona
Seven teams were part of the opening day. Mercedes was the first to head out, before Alpine, Audi, Red Bull, Racing Bulls, Haas and Cadillac joined the running. Teams can choose only three days from the five-day window, which explains why not everyone appeared on track at the same time.
Red Bull began its 2026 programme with Isack Hadjar behind the wheel. The team kept the running controlled, focusing on installation laps and early system checks. This outing also marked an important moment, as it was the first time Red Bull ran its own in-house power unit, developed with technical support from Ford, under the new regulations.
Not every team shared its mileage figures, but Mercedes confirmed its numbers after the session. The team completed 151 laps during the day, adding up to just over 700km. The aim was clear: get laps done, spot issues early and make sure everything works as intended.
Audi and Cadillac saw reduced running after technical issues interrupted their programmes. Ferrari, McLaren and Aston Martin did not take part on the opening day, with teams spreading their track time across the five-day window ahead of pre-season testing in Bahrain.
Williams Racing has confirmed it will not participate in the Barcelona shakedown, as delays in the development of its 2026 car, the FW48, have pushed its schedule back.
