Formula 1 steps up preparations for the 2026 season with two official pre-season test weeks at the Bahrain International Circuit following a private shakedown in Barcelona. All 11 teams will take part across six days of running.
Test dates
– Test One: Wednesday 11 – Friday 13 February
– Test Two: Wednesday 18 – Friday 20 February
Sky Sports coverage
– Sky Sports F1 will be on-site in Bahrain for both test weeks.
Test One (11–13 February)
– Live: Final hour of each afternoon session shown live on Sky Sports F1 (UK time 3.00–4.00pm).
– 8.00pm: Testing Wrap – nightly highlights and key paddock interviews.
– 8.30pm: Ted’s Testing Notebook – Ted Kravitz’s daily analysis.
– Daily: Live blog on skysports.com and the Sky Sports app from 7.00am with lap times, track updates and video clips. Reports from Craig Slater on Sky Sports News will also cover developments.
Test Two (18–20 February)
– Full live coverage across all three days:
– Morning session live: 6.50am–11.05am (UK time)
– Afternoon session live: 11.55am–4.10pm (UK time)
– 8.00pm: Testing Wrap each night.
– Daily live blog and app updates with lap times, clips and on-the-ground reporting.
Bahrain International Circuit
– A regular testing venue and a long-standing race circuit on the F1 calendar. The 15‑corner, 3.36‑mile track mixes long straights, low‑to‑medium speed corners and heavy braking zones, making it a strong test of tyre wear and car balance. Wind can be a factor, and the circuit’s floodlights allow running into cooler evenings.
Weather in Sakhir
– Middle Eastern conditions are generally dry and warm in February. Expect daytime temperatures in the low‑to‑mid 20s°C and little chance of rain, so teams should be able to complete unrestricted running across the six test days.
How to watch or stream Sky Sports F1 in the UK and Ireland
– Got Sky?
– TV: Sky customers can watch live on the Sky Sports F1 channel.
– App: Sky customers can stream via the Sky Sports app.
– Not got Sky?
– Stream: Non‑Sky customers can stream with NOW Day or Month passes (contract‑free).
– Live blog: Follow live updates via the dedicated F1 blog on skysports.com.
– Free highlights: Watch track highlights and video clips on the Sky Sports app.
How to watch Sky Sports F1 on mobile with the Sky Sports app
1. Download or open the Sky Sports app.
2. Go to the ‘Watch’ section when the programme is on air.
3. Tap Sky Sports F1.
4. Sign in with your Sky iD (one-time sign‑in).
What is NOW?
– NOW is an instant streaming service offering access to all Sky Sports channels and additional Sky Sports+ streams across many devices. Membership is contract‑free with Day or Month passes and can be cancelled anytime.
Additional notes
– Sky Sports will provide nightly Testing Wrap shows, daily live blogs and in‑depth reporting throughout both test weeks as teams finalise setups ahead of the 24‑race 2026 season, which begins with the Australian Grand Prix on March 6–8.