More specifically, it has now been twelve years since pre-season testing last took place in January. The most recent occasion dates back to 2014, on the eve of the hybrid era, when testing was held at Jerez from 27 to 31 January.

On that occasion, three separate test sessions were scheduled: one at Circuito de Jerez, followed by two further outings at Bahrain International Circuit between February and March, for a total of 12 days of running designed to give teams ample time to prepare for the season.

A very similar format will be adopted this year, with three test sessions once again on the agenda. The first will take place behind closed doors at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from 26 to 30 January, followed by two sessions in Bahrain, scheduled for 11–13 February and 18–20 February, ahead of the season opener in Australia in early March.

January testing in Formula 1 was very much the norm through the late 1980s and 1990s, beginning in 1986 and running all the way to 2002 — the last time pre-season running took place in the opening month of the year, aside from the already-mentioned 2014 exception.

The new season will get underway a week earlier than last year, with Melbourne once again staging the opening round, while Abu Dhabi will bring the championship to a close — continuing what has now become a well-established tradition.

The 2026 campaign will again feature 24 Grands Prix, complemented by six sprint events, taking the total number of races to 30 across a calendar that runs from March to December. The result is a relentlessly busy season, offering more on-track action than ever before.

The most significant change is the removal of the Imola Grand Prix, meaning Italy drops back to a single race on the calendar. Spain, by contrast, gains an additional round, with Madrid joining Barcelona on the schedule at different points during the season.