NEW F1 testing dates revealed after incident-filled Bahrain …..read more
Formula 1 testing is set to undergo significant changes in 2026, following a chaotic week of testing at the Bahrain International Circuit in 2025. The testing sessions have been marked by a series of incidents, which have led the FIA to rethink the schedule for future testing.
The week of testing in Bahrain, held in preparation for the 2025 Formula 1 season, was crucial for teams as they worked to familiarize themselves with their new machinery. The goal was to accumulate as much track time as possible to fine-tune the cars ahead of the season. However, the test week was far from smooth, with multiple disruptions throughout the sessions.
The first day of testing started with a significant issue: a circuit-wide power cut that lasted for an hour, severely cutting down the amount of track time available for teams. The FIA made the decision to extend the session in order to make up for the lost time. While the power cut was a major setback, the following day brought even more challenges for the teams on track.
On day two, the weather caused problems, with rain showers affecting the running of the cars. This led to a difficult situation for the teams, as only two of the 10 teams present had brought wet-weather tyres to the track. As a result, eight teams were unable to take advantage of the wet conditions, severely limiting their ability to test under these conditions.
The final day of testing also saw its fair share of incidents. In the morning session, a pane of glass fell from the pitlane gantry, crashing onto the circuit and causing a red flag. The session was halted while the debris was cleared and the situation was assessed. Later in the day, a slow-moving bus unexpectedly entered the track, once again forcing the FIA to issue a red flag. This caused further delays and disruptions in the afternoon session.
These incidents have raised concerns about the current testing structure and have prompted F1 authorities to look into extending the testing period for the 2026 season. Given the number of disruptions and the importance of testing for the teams, the extended schedule will give teams more time to recover from setbacks and ensure they are fully prepared for the start of the season. The hope is that such adjustments will allow for more efficient testing and better preparation for future
seasons.
