The 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain will officially be the first time all 22 cars take to the track under the new regulations, giving fans their first real taste of what to expect from the upcoming 24 race weekends, including six sprint events. While this isn’t technically the first time the cars have burned asphalt – the teams conducted behind-closed-doors testing in Barcelona a few weeks ago – this session offered only limited highlights. Bahrain therefore constitutes the real curtain raiser for the 2026 season.
It will be particularly fascinating because of the huge wave of regulatory changes this year, with experts calling it the biggest reset in sports history. This has made the season more unpredictable and exciting, as teams are effectively starting from square one.
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 actually challenge for the title. Can Mercedes produce another dominant race, as they did the last time new regulations were introduced? Another reason we can’t wait for Bahrain is that it officially ends a nearly two-month hiatus since the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi, where Lando Norris and McLaren won the championships.
There are also several burning questions that fans and experts hope to find answers to in Bahrain: How will newcomers Cadillac and Audi perform? What can we expect from the only rookie of the season, Arvid Lindblad? And can Isack Hadjar finally break the Red Bull second seat curse?
Bahrain will host two three-day testing sessions: February 11-13 and February 18-20. As with the Barcelona test, the first session in Bahrain will not be entirely televised, with only the final hour being 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 simple guide on how to watch the 2026 F1 pre-season testing in Bahrain live online from anywhere.
How to watch F1 2026 Bahrain testing in the US
How to watch the 2026 F1 Bahrain tests 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, provided it does not violate 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 testing in Bahrain when you’re away from home.
How to watch the F1 2026 Bahrain tests in the UK
In the UK, Sky Sports will remain the home of F1 with a channel dedicated to all the action.
Sky Sports packages start from £22 per month. You can also use a more flexible streaming option, Now (formerly Now TV). Now sports passes start at £14.99.
Outside of the UK, when will the Bahrain tests take place? To use NordVPN (try it risk-free) to watch during your travels.
How to watch the 2026 F1 testing in Bahrain, Australia
Fox Sports via Kayo is the leading option 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 (just AU$9.99 for your first month), while the Premium plan costs AU$45.99 per month (with an AU$1 offer for the first month).
Outside of Oz? Australian F1 fans can still watch Kayo using NordVPN.
How to watch the 2026 F1 testing in Bahrain in Canada
Canadian F1 fans can watch the 2026 pre-season testing in Bahrain on TSN.
If you’ve ditched the cord, you’ll want to check TSNPluswhich 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 box or supported device.
Use NordVPN if you are out of the country for one of the test days.
F1 2026 – Teams, drivers, test schedule, questions and answers
2026 F1 testing schedule in Bahrain
|
Trial week |
Date |
Time (GMT) |
Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Trial 1 |
Wednesday February 11 |
7 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
2:00 – 11:00 |
| Row 1 – Cell 0 |
Thursday February 12 |
7 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
2:00 – 11:00 |
| Line 2 – Cell 0 |
Friday February 13 |
7 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
2:00 – 11:00 |
|
Test 2 |
Wednesday February 18 |
7 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
2:00 – 11:00 |
| Line 4 – Cell 0 |
Thursday February 19 |
7 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
2:00 – 11:00 |
| Line 5 – Cell 0 |
Friday February 20 |
7 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
2:00 – 11:00 |
Why is coverage of the first week of pre-season testing in Bahrain limited?
The opening week of pre-season testing is usually quiet, so broadcasters have opted to air just an hour of coverage, focusing on the big picture.
Stay tuned for week twowhen the cars will be running faster and closer to race day pace, promising a lot more action on the track.
Full F1 2026 calendar dates
The 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship racing calendar includes 24 live televised races. We will keep you informed 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: United States
- October 30-November 1: Mexico
- November 6-8: Brazil
- November 19-21: Las Vegas
- November 27-29: Qatar
- December 4-6: Abu Dhabi
F1 driver line-up (2026 season)
McLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
Mercedes: George Russell and Kimi Antonelli
Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
Williams: Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon
Racing bulls: Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad
Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll
Haas: Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman
Audi: Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto
Alpine: Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto
Cadillac: Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas
