Sky Sports to Broadcast Full Bahrain Pre-Season Test This Week

Sky Sports will provide comprehensive live coverage of the second Formula 1 pre-season test in Bahrain this week, marking a significant shift from the limited broadcasts seen earlier this winter. This means fans can watch every minute of on-track action from Wednesday through Friday, a welcome change after the Barcelona shakedown was held in private and only the final hour of each day was shown during the first Bahrain test.

Why it matters:

Full broadcast access to testing is crucial for fans and analysts alike to gauge the true competitive order before the season begins. With teams running new cars and drivers settling in, these sessions offer the first real, unfiltered look at performance, reliability, and potential pecking order shifts for the 2026 campaign.

The details:

• Sky Sports' coverage will begin daily at 6:50 GMT, ten minutes before the four-hour morning session starts at 7:00.
• After a one-hour break, coverage resumes at 11:50 GMT ahead of the afternoon session, which runs from 12:00 to 16:00.
• Each day concludes with a 30-minute 'Testing Wrap' program at 20:00 GMT to analyze the day's events.
• This schedule is identical for all three days of the test: Wednesday, February 18th through Friday, February 20th.
• Depending on regional broadcasting rights, the test is also expected to be available in full on F1 TV in many countries.

What's next:

The data and impressions gathered from this final pre-season test will dominate the narrative heading into the opening race. Teams will use these last sessions to finalize setups, complete race simulations, and build confidence ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix. For fans, it's the last chance to scrutinize the cars and form early predictions before the competitive lights go out.