F1 2026 pre-season testing begins in Bahrain with limited TV coverage

The first official track action of the 2026 Formula 1 season gets underway this week with pre-season testing in Bahrain, but fans will have severely limited live television coverage of the crucial three-day session. Teams will run at the Bahrain International Circuit from Wednesday to Friday, following private shakedowns last month, with only the final hour of each day broadcast live.

Why it matters:

Pre-season testing offers the first real glimpse of each team's competitive potential, revealing the initial performance and reliability of the new cars. The limited broadcast window means teams can conduct the majority of their programs away from intense public scrutiny, placing greater importance on the data and rumors that emerge from the paddock rather than live on-track visuals.

The details:

• The first test block runs from Wednesday, February 11th, to Friday, February 13th, with track action from 10:00 to 19:00 local time each day.
• Broadcast restrictions: In a shift from recent years, only the final hour of each day (15:00-16:00 GMT) will be broadcast live on outlets like Sky Sports F1 and F1 TV.
• Car launches finalized: By the first day of testing, all ten existing teams will have revealed their 2026 liveries. McLaren and Aston Martin, the final holdouts, will unveil their cars on Monday, February 9th.
• New team debut: Cadillac, set to become the 11th team on the grid at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, revealed its livery during a high-profile Super Bowl advertisement on February 8th.
• Alternative coverage: For the non-televised hours, fans can follow live text updates via the Motorsport.com live blog. Sky Sports F1 will also air daily recap shows, Testing Wrap at 20:00 GMT and Ted's Testing Notebook at 20:30 GMT.

What's next:

The data gathered in Bahrain will set the narrative for the opening races, with teams analyzing performance trends and reliability ahead of the season opener in Australia on March 8th. The limited TV access will amplify the focus on lap times, long-run pace, and driver feedback reported from the garage, making the first week of testing a puzzle for analysts and fans to piece together from fragmented information.