Sky Sports F1 Confirms Bahrain F1 2026 Testing has been…read more
Sky Sports F1 has confirmed its broadcast plans for the opening round of 2026 Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain, giving fans clarity on when and how they will be able to follow the on-track action. The upcoming test sessions are especially significant because they mark the first major public running of the new-generation cars built under Formula 1’s sweeping 2026 regulation overhaul.
Following an earlier five-day shakedown event in Barcelona that was conducted behind closed doors, all 11 teams are now preparing to run their new machines at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. That January shakedown offered limited visibility to fans and media, but it provided teams with valuable early data. Lewis Hamilton reportedly set the unofficial benchmark during that Barcelona running while driving his new Ferrari, drawing early attention to the Scuderia’s preparations for the new era.
The 2026 season introduces one of the most extensive technical rule changes in modern Formula 1 history. Because of this, teams have been granted significantly more testing time than in previous years — roughly triple the allocation compared with last season’s preparation period. The expanded schedule is designed to help both established teams and newer constructors identify reliability problems, resolve design quirks, and better understand the behavior of their radically revised cars and power units before the championship begins.
So far, however, there have been no reports of major technical failures across the grid, suggesting that most teams are managing the transition reasonably well. Not every outfit approached the Barcelona shakedown in the same way. Williams chose not to participate in the group running at all, instead carrying out its own private testing and a dedicated VTT (Vehicle Test Track) program ahead of Bahrain. Aston Martin completed only two of the three available Barcelona days, while the remaining teams used the full allocation of track time.
Bahrain now hosts the first officially broadcast pre-season test of the year. This makes it the first opportunity for fans to visually assess the 2026 cars in action rather than relying solely on written reports and unofficial timing leaks. Initially, there were expectations that Sky Sports F1 would televise extended portions — or even complete days — of testing. However, the broadcaster has since clarified that its live coverage will be limited.
According to Sky Sports F1’s published schedule, only the final hour of running on each day of the first Bahrain test will be shown live. Track action is scheduled to run from 10:00 in the morning until 19:00 local Bahrain time across all three days. That window converts to 07:00–16:00 GMT. Sky’s live broadcast segment will focus on the closing hour of each session, beginning at 15:00 GMT from February 11 through February 13.
Although the live on-track window is relatively short, viewers will still get additional analysis and behind-the-scenes insight each evening. Sky Sports F1 will air a daily Testing Wrap show reviewing the day’s key developments, performance trends, and technical observations. This will be followed by the return of Ted’s Testing Notebook, hosted by veteran pit-lane reporter Ted Kravitz, who will provide deeper analysis, interviews, and paddock stories. These supplementary programs aim to give fans broader context beyond the limited live footage.
The confirmed Sky Sports F1 broadcast schedule for the first Bahrain test week is as follows: on February 11, 12, and 13, the final hour of testing will air live at 15:00 GMT. Each evening, a Testing Wrap program will be shown at 20:00 GMT, followed by Ted’s Testing Notebook at 20:30 GMT. This same structure repeats across all three days, offering a consistent viewing lineup for fans tracking team progress.
The Bahrain sessions represent only the first phase of pre-season preparation. A second block of testing is scheduled to take place at the same circuit from February 18 to February 20, giving teams further time to refine setups and validate reliability before racing begins.
Attention will then quickly shift to the opening race of the 2026 Formula 1 season, which is set to be held in Melbourne at the Australian Grand Prix. All 11 teams are expected to compete as the new campaign gets underway. The season opener is scheduled for March 8, with the race starting at 15:00 local time in Australia. That corresponds to 04:00 GMT and 23:00 ET the previous day for viewers in those time zones.
With brand-new regulations, expanded testing allowances, and high-profile driver moves already making headlines, the Bahrain pre-season test is shaping up to be a crucial early indicator of the competitive order — even if fans will only see the final hour live each day.
