Why is the Barcelona Shakedown being held in private?

A number of 2026 F1 cars have already made their track debut as part of the Barcelona Shakedown – but why is the event being held privately? We have all of the details on that and more about the shakedown below…

What is the Barcelona Shakedown?

The Barcelona Shakedown is an opportunity for the teams to run their new cars on track, without the limitations posed by filming days where running is generally restricted to 200km.

The event allows each squad to check that everything works as expected on their 2026 machines and to see how various aspects correlate with the data from their simulations.

How long is the Barcelona Shakedown?

The Barcelona Shakedown runs from January 26-30 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, a venue that the drivers and teams are very familiar with as the host of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.

Why is the Barcelona Shakedown being held in private?

A shakedown differs to a test in that it is the first time that a team runs its car. As such, the event is not about chasing performance – instead the teams will be focused on getting mileage on their cars and ensuring that all of the various parts work as expected amid the introduction of new regulations for the 2026 season.

From the data they gather, each outfit will then be able to focus on where they need to improve going forward.

Can I watch the Barcelona Shakedown on TV?

Unfortunately the Barcelona Shakedown will not be aired live. However, a highlights video will be released each day as well as short interviews with the drivers and team principals, clips on social media and supporting coverage across F1.com.

How much running will teams have at the Barcelona Shakedown?

While the event spans five days, each team will be permitted to run for a total of three days. This allows them flexibility in deciding when it is convenient for their car to hit the track – for example, some may opt to run later in the week in order to work on their machine during the opening days.

This approach also means that teams can adapt to any changing weather conditions and avoid running on days where the forecast predicts rain or snow.

Which teams are taking part in the Barcelona Shakedown?

All of the teams look set to participate in the event with the exception of Williams, who have stated that they are continuing to “push for maximum car performance”. The Grove-based outfit will join the rest of the field at the first Bahrain pre-season test (more on which below).

What comes next after the Barcelona Shakedown?

While several teams held their launches/livery reveals prior to the Barcelona Shakedown, others will do so afterwards, with Mercedes, Williams, Cadillac, Aston Martin and McLaren all set to host their events in early February.

The teams will then head to the Bahrain International Circuit from February 11-13 for the first pre-season test, while the same venue will host a second test across February 18-20.

Can I watch Bahrain pre-season testing?

The last hour of running during each day of the first Bahrain test will be streamed live, while every minute from every day will be aired on a full live broadcast during the second test.

Alongside this, there will be plenty of supporting content across F1.com, F1’s social media and F1 TV.

When is the first race of the 2026 F1 season?

After all of that, the attentions of the drivers and teams will switch to the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, which kicks off a 24-round calendar on March 6-8.