How to Watch F1 Pre-Season Testing: TV Times, Schedule, and Driver Lineups

The final pre-season test in Bahrain is underway, offering the last glimpse of team form before the 2026 Formula 1 season begins. Fans can follow all the track action live, with detailed broadcast schedules and driver lineups now confirmed for the three-day event at the Sakhir circuit.

Why it matters:

Pre-season testing provides critical, unfiltered data on car performance and reliability, setting the narrative for the opening races. This final test is particularly crucial for teams like Ferrari and Red Bull to validate upgrades and for new driver pairings to gel, offering the only real-world benchmark before competitive sessions start.

The details:

• Broadcast Information: The test is being broadcast in full on Fox Sports in Australia, available via Foxtel, Kayo Sports, and Foxtel Go. Each day features two four-hour sessions with a one-hour break.
• Session Times (AEDT):
  • Wednesday, Feb 18: Session 1 at 5:50 PM, Session 2 at 10:55 PM on Fox Sports 506.
  • Thursday, Feb 19: Session 1 at 5:50 PM, Session 2 at 10:55 PM on Fox Sports 506.
  • Friday, Feb 20: Session 1 at 5:50 PM on Fox Sports 505, Session 2 at 10:55 PM on Fox Sports 506.
• Key Driver Lineups: Teams are splitting duties, with notable schedules including Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli and George Russell sharing each day, and Red Bull giving significant track time to junior driver Isack Hadjar alongside Max Verstappen. Ferrari's plan for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton beyond Wednesday remains to be confirmed.
• Testing Context: This follows a closed shakedown in Barcelona and an initial test in Bahrain, where Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli set the fastest overall time.

What's next:

All eyes will be on long-run pace and reliability data as teams complete their final preparations. Mercedes and Red Bull enter as tentative favorites, with both teams rumored to have exploited a regulatory loophole related to compression ratios. However, testing times are notoriously deceptive, and the true competitive order will only be revealed at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix next week.