Reigning F1 world champion Lando Norris called driving his McLaren with the number 1 on it for the first time a "surreal" experience during pre-season testing in Barcelona. The first day focused on system checks and data gathering with the newly-built MCL40.
Max Verstappen will sit out Thursday's F1 pre-season test in Barcelona as Red Bull manages parts logistics, while Lewis Hamilton gets behind the wheel for Ferrari for the first time during this test session.
Day 4 of F1's 2026 pre-season test continues in Barcelona after Mercedes set the pace on Day 3. Williams confirms its car is ready for the next test in Bahrain, as teams collect vital data under the new regulations.
The Williams FW15C, the car Alain Prost drove to his final championship in 1993, has been added to the official F1 Exhibition in Melbourne. Renowned for its revolutionary but soon-to-be-banned technology and dominant performance, the "little Airbus" will be displayed alongside other historic machines until April 2026.
Williams boss James Vowles says skipping the Barcelona shakedown was a painful but necessary strategic decision to ensure the team is fully prepared with spares and updates for the opening races, as the complexity of the 2026 car stretched production capabilities.
Cadillac's F1 team has made its operational debut in the paddock at the Barcelona pre-season test, with team boss Graeme Lowdon calling it an emotional 'big step'. The outfit, approved less than a year ago, ran its 2026 car with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, viewing early issues as a natural part of its development journey.
Haas's 2026 car testing hit a snag as a 'more serious' reliability issue halted Oliver Bearman's running in Barcelona. While the team found positives in operational progress, the fault requires urgent analysis to avoid impacting its development schedule for the new regulations.
An analysis of Red Bull's 2026 car reveals two radical design features: prominently placed crash structures enabling ultra-compact sidepods and a diffuser slot solution also adopted by Mercedes. The design underscores Red Bull's extreme, performance-first philosophy in the new regulatory era.
Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell set the pace on a busier third day of F1 testing in Barcelona, completing 183 laps. Lando Norris debuted McLaren's 2026 car, while Haas and Audi faced reliability issues that caused red flags.
A new report states that F1 legend Michael Schumacher, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2013, has progressed to the point where he is no longer bedridden and can sit in a wheelchair. The rare update offers a glimpse of hope in his closely guarded, decade-long recovery managed by his family and a dedicated medical team in Switzerland.
Max Verstappen narrowly missed the 2025 F1 drivers' championship by two points to Lando Norris, but embraced the underdog role, appreciating increased fan cheers over previous boos. He reflects on his unchanged approach and looks ahead to 2026's new regulations.
Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time on the third day of F1's private Barcelona test, leading a Mercedes 1-2 ahead of George Russell. McLaren's Lando Norris was third in the team's first run with its updated car, as the test focused on mileage and system checks ahead of the new season.
