The 2026 Bahrain pre-season testing will officially be the first time all 22 cars take to the track under the new regulations, giving fans their first real look at what to expect from the next 24 race weekends, including six sprint events. While it technically won’t be the first time the cars have burned asphalt (the teams tested behind closed doors in Barcelona a few weeks ago), that session only offered limited highlights. Bahrain, therefore, serves as the true stage to raise the curtain for the 2026 season.
It will be especially fascinating given the huge wave of regulatory changes this year, with experts calling it the biggest reset in the history of the sport. This has made the season more unpredictable and exciting, as teams are effectively starting from the beginning.
Early signs from Barcelona suggest that Mercedes, McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari remain the heavyweights, but Bahrain will provide the first proper data to see who can really challenge for the title. Can Mercedes put together another dominant run, like it did the last time new regulations were introduced? Another reason we can’t wait for Bahrain is that it officially ends the almost two-month hiatus since the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi, where Lando Norris and McLaren lifted the championships.
There are also several burning questions that fans and experts alike hope to find answers to in Bahrain: How will new entrants Cadillac and Audi perform? What can we expect from the season’s only rookie, Arvid Lindblad? And can Isack Hadjar finally break Red Bull’s second seat curse?
Bahrain will host two three-day test sessions: February 11-13 and February 18-20. Like the Barcelona test, the first session in Bahrain will not be televised in its entirety, and only the final hour will be broadcast live. The good news is that every minute of the second session, from February 18 to 20, will be broadcast live.
Here’s our easy guide on how to watch F1 2026 pre-season testing in Bahrain live online from anywhere.
How to watch F1 2026 Bahrain testing in the US
How to watch F1 2026 Bahrain testing from anywhere
🌎 ABROAD? F1 is broadcast in many countries around the world, but if you are traveling outside your country you should consider using one of the best VPNs to unblock your domestic streaming service, as long as it doesn’t breach any terms and conditions.
A VPN will allow you to relocate your device to your home country. NordVPN is our favorite VPN and you can use it to watch F1 2026 Bahrain testing while you’re away from home.
How to watch F1 2026 Bahrain testing in the UK
In the UK, Sky Sports will continue to be the home of F1 with a channel dedicated to all the action.
Sky Sports packages start from £22 per month. Or you can use a more flexible streaming option, Now (formerly Now TV). Sports passes now start at £14.99.
Outside the UK when testing in Bahrain? Wear NordVPN (try it risk-free) to see during your travels.
How to watch F1 2026 Bahrain testing in Australia
Fox Sports via Kayo is the premier choice for Australian viewers with Full HD coverage and multi-screen viewing options.
Kayo offers two plans: Standard and Premium. The Standard plan starts at AU$29.99 per month (only AU$9.99 for the first month), while the Premium plan costs AU$45.99 per month (with an offer of AU$1 for the first month).
Out of Oz? Australian F1 fans can still watch it Kayo by using NordVPN.
How to watch F1 2026 Bahrain testing in Canada
Canadian F1 fans can watch Bahrain 2026 pre-season testing on TSN.
If you got rid of the cable, you’ll want to check it. TSN Pluswhich costs $8/month or $80/year. The TSN app will allow you to live stream F1 practice, qualifying and the race from your phone, streaming device or compatible device.
Use NordVPN if you are out of the country during one of the trial days.
F1 2026: teams, drivers, test schedule, questions and answers
F1 2026 Bahrain testing schedule
|
Test week |
Date |
Time (GMT) |
Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Test 1 |
Wednesday February 11 |
7 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
2am – 11am |
| Row 1 – Cell 0 |
Thursday February 12 |
7 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
2am – 11am |
| Row 2 – Cell 0 |
Friday February 13 |
7 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
2am – 11am |
|
Test 2 |
Wednesday February 18 |
7 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
2am – 11am |
| Row 4 – Cell 0 |
Thursday February 19 |
7 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
2am – 11am |
| Row 5 – Cell 0 |
Friday February 20 |
7 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
2am – 11am |
Why is coverage of the first week of preseason testing in Bahrain limited?
The first week of pre-season testing is usually quiet, so broadcasters have opted to show just one hour of coverage, focusing on an overview.
Stay tuned for the second weekwhen cars will run faster and closer to race day pace, promising much more action on the track.
Complete F1 2026 calendar dates
The 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship racing calendar includes 24 live televised races. We’ll keep you updated on them right here.
- March 6-8: Australia
- March 13-15: China
- March 27-29: Japan
- April 10-12: Bahrain
- April 17-19: Saudi Arabia
- May 1-3: Miami
- May 22-24: Canada
- June 5-7: Monaco
- June 12-14: Barcelona
- June 26-28: Austria
- July 3-5: Great Britain
- July 17-19: Belgium
- July 24-26: Hungary
- August 21-23: Netherlands
- September 4-6: Italy
- September 11-13: Madrid
- September 24-26: Azerbaijan
- October 9-11: Singapore
- October 23-25: USA
- October 30 to November 1: Mexico
- November 6-8: Brazil
- November 19-21: Las Vegas
- November 27-29: Qatar
- December 4-6: Abu Dhabi
F1 driver lineup (2026 season)
McLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
mercedes: George Russell and Kimi Antonelli
red bull: Max Verstappen and Isaac Hadjar
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
Williams: Carlos Sainz and Alex Albón
Racing bulls: Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad
Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll
Haas: Esteban Ocón and Oliver Bearman
Audi: Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto
Alpine: Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto
Cadillac: Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas
