F1 2026 Pre-Season Testing: Day Three Kicks Off with McLaren's Car Reveal in Barcelona
The 2026 Formula 1 season is rapidly approaching, with just six weeks until the opening race in Australia, and teams are diving into a campaign filled with uncertainties due to sweeping new regulations. This week, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya hosts behind-closed-doors testing, offering the first glimpse of the 2026 cars on track. McLaren, the reigning world champions who secured both titles last year with Lando Norris claiming his first drivers' championship, are set to feature for the first time today, revealing their new car amidst wet weather conditions.
Testing Schedule and Team Dynamics
This Barcelona session marks the first of three pre-season tests, with official sessions scheduled in Bahrain next month on 11-13 February and 18-20 February. However, Williams will be absent this week due to delays with their car, highlighting the challenges teams face under the new rules. The grid sees significant changes, with Cadillac joining as the first new team since Haas in 2016, Audi taking over Sauber, and Ford partnering with Red Bull for engine development. Rumours suggest Mercedes might be frontrunners this season, but performance remains speculative until cars hit the track.
Day Two Recap and Ferrari's Solid Start
On Day 2, Ferrari demonstrated a strong testing programme, completing 120 laps in total. Charles Leclerc led the way with a fastest time of 1:20.844 over 66 laps, including some dry running before rain intervened. Lewis Hamilton added 56 laps with a quickest time of 1:32.872, though he had a brief off-track moment in the slippery conditions. Leclerc commented on the car's novelty, stating, 'The car is very different to what we've been driving so far,' emphasising a focus on system checks over performance.
Incidents and Team Updates
The session wasn't without drama, as Isack Hadjar of Red Bull crashed at turn 14, causing minimal damage to the RB22 and ending his running for the day, though he emerged unharmed. Meanwhile, McLaren confirmed their testing plans, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri set to drive over the next few days after missing the first two to maximise development time. Hamilton shared his excitement after a shakedown in Fiorano, noting the unique experience of driving a Ferrari and reconnecting with the team's passionate fans.
What to Expect on Day Three
As Day 3 begins at 8am GMT, all eyes are on McLaren's debut and whether teams that sat out yesterday will opt for wet running in the forecasted rain. With the 2026 season poised for unpredictability, this testing phase is crucial for teams to adapt to the clean-slate regulations and fine-tune their cars ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.
