Barcelona Shakedown 2026: F1 Teams Bank Crucial Mileage as New Regulations Era Begins

Barcelona, January 30, 2026: Formula 1 teams wrapped up a highly productive Barcelona Shakedown Week at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, completing vital early running for their 2026 cars and power units as the sport prepares for one of the biggest regulation changes in recent history. Across three permitted days of running, teams focused on reliability, mileage accumulation, and system validation ahead of official pre-season testing in Bahrain.

TGR Haas F1 Team Completes Clean Final Day

TGR Haas F1 Team concluded its shakedown programme with Ollie Bearman running in the morning and Esteban Ocon taking over in the afternoon, enjoying uninterrupted running after earlier reliability issues in the week. The VF-26 was first out of the garage at 09:00 local time, with Bearman completing sustained runs on multiple tyre compounds to help the team understand performance characteristics under the new 2026 regulations.

Ocon added further mileage later in the day, building on his strong running from earlier in the week as Haas successfully banked quality laps and valuable data. Team Principal Ayao Komatsu highlighted the importance of learning over outright performance, noting that the focus was on understanding aero behaviour, power unit integration, and consistency over long runs.

Audi Revolut F1 Team Makes Strong First Steps

The Audi Revolut F1 Team completed its first official shakedown week as a full works entry, with the R26 and Audi’s new hybrid power unit showing encouraging signs. Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg shared driving duties, with the team completing over 140 laps on the final day alone.

Audi F1 Project Head Mattia Binotto described the week as a critical learning phase, stressing that the shakedown was about building understanding rather than performance. Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley added that the test also allowed Audi to integrate its chassis and powertrain operations into a cohesive trackside unit ahead of Bahrain.

Cadillac F1 Builds Momentum Ahead of Debut Season

The Cadillac Formula 1 Team continued preparations for its debut F1 season, completing 164 laps over three dayswith Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas behind the wheel. The American outfit focused on reliability programmes and operational procedures following its historic first run at Silverstone earlier this month.

Team Principal Graeme Lowdon praised the progress made in just the team’s fourth day of running its first F1 car, underlining the importance of the experience and feedback brought by Perez and Bottas as Cadillac builds toward Bahrain testing.

Aston Martin and McLaren Log Heavy Mileage

Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team continued its shakedown with Fernando Alonso driving the AMR26 for the first time, completing 61 laps in a day focused on reliability and baseline understanding. Alonso and Lance Stroll have now both sampled the car, with the team set for its season launch on February 9.

Meanwhile, McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team emerged as one of the busiest outfits, covering 1,355km across three days with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri sharing duties in the MCL40. The team reported strong progress in reliability and setup exploration as it prepares for Bahrain.

Focus Shifts to Bahrain Testing

With the Barcelona Shakedown complete, teams now turn their attention to official pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit, scheduled for February 11-13 and February 18-20. The opening round of the 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship will follow at the Australian Grand Prix, March 6-8.