With still two months to go before the lights go out in Australia, Formula 1 has already passed the midpoint of the winter break, and preparations are ramping up fast — with the first 2026 car launches due as early as next week.

From there, the focus will swiftly shift trackside. The first official — albeit behind-closed-doors — test is scheduled to take place in Barcelona from January 26 to 30, marking the true beginning of Formula 1’s new-generation era.

A double test programme will then take place in Sakhir, first from February 11 to 13 and again from February 18 to 20, before the countdown begins to the opening race of the season.

While fans wait to see the drivers back on track and the grandstands filled once more, Formula 1’s circuits themselves have effectively gone into hibernation during the winter break.

Several venues have been hit by heavy snowfall in recent weeks — including Imola, Montreal and Zandvoort, which will host the final Dutch Grand Prix in 2026.

Below is a round-up of the snow-covered circuits.

While a further three-week wait remains before all the cars hit the track together, Audi has opted to steal a march on the competition by using its first filming day of the season tomorrow.

The RS26 — the German marque’s first-ever Formula 1 car — will make its official on-track debut in Barcelona, the same venue set to host pre-season testing at the end of January.

Under filming day regulations, a maximum of 200 kilometres may be completed, with the cars running on special Pirelli demonstration tyres rather than the compounds that will be used during the 2026 season.