The 2026 Bahrain pre-season testing will officially be the first time all 22 cars hit the track under the new regulations, giving fans their first real glimpse of what to expect from the upcoming 24 race weekends, including six sprint events. While this won’t technically be the first time the cars burn asphalt – teams tested behind closed doors in Barcelona a few weeks ago – that session offered only limited highlights. Bahrain, therefore, serves as the true curtain-raiser for the 2026 season.
It’ll be especially fascinating due to the huge wave of regulation changes this year, with experts calling it the biggest reset in the sport’s 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 truly mount a title challenge. Can Mercedes churn out yet another dominating run, like they did the last time new regulations were introduced? Another reason we can’t wait for Bahrain is that it officially ends the nearly 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 both fans and experts 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 the curse of the second Red Bull seat?
Bahrain will host two three-day test sessions: February 11-13 and February 18-20. Like the Barcelona test, the first Bahrain session won’t be fully televised, with only the final hour streamed 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 to how to watch the 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 unlock your domestic streaming service provided it does not infringe any terms and conditions.
A VPN will allow you relocate your device back to your home country. NordVPN is our favorite VPN and you can make use of it to watch the 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 as the home of F1 with the dedicated channel for all the action.
Sky Sports packages start from £22 per month. Or you can use a more flexible streaming option, Now, (formerly Now TV). Now sports passes start at £14.99.
Outside the UK when the Bahrain testing takes place? Use NordVPN (try risk-free) to watch while on your travels.
How to watch F1 2026 Bahrain testing in Australia
Fox Sports via Kayo is the main 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 a AU$1 first month offer).
Outside Oz? Australian F1 fans can still watch Kayo by using NordVPN.
How to watch F1 2026 Bahrain testing in Canada
Canadian F1 fans can watch the 2026 Bahrain pre-season testing on TSN.
If you’ve ditched the cord you’ll want to check out TSN Plus, which costs $8/month or $80/year. The TSN app will allow you to live stream F1 practices, qualifying and the race from your phone, streaming box or supported device.
Use NordVPN to if you’re outside the country for one of the testing days.
F1 2026 — Teams, Drivers, Testing Schedule, Q+A
F1 2026 Bahrain testing schedule
|
Test Week |
Date |
Time (GMT) |
Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Test 1 |
Wednesday, Feb 11 |
7 am – 4 pm |
2 am – 11 am |
| Row 1 – Cell 0 |
Thursday, Feb 12 |
7 am – 4 pm |
2 am – 11 am |
| Row 2 – Cell 0 |
Friday, Feb 13 |
7 am – 4 pm |
2 am – 11 am |
|
Test 2 |
Wednesday, Feb 18 |
7 am – 4 pm |
2 am – 11 am |
| Row 4 – Cell 0 |
Thursday, Feb 19 |
7 am – 4 pm |
2 am – 11 am |
| Row 5 – Cell 0 |
Friday, Feb 20 |
7 am – 4 pm |
2 am – 11 am |
Why is coverage limited of the first week of Bahrain pre-season testing?
The opening week of pre-season testing is usually quiet, so broadcasters have chosen to show just one hour of coverage, focusing on a overview.
Stay tuned for week two, when the cars will be running faster and closer to race-day pace, promising much more action on track.
Full F1 2026 calendar dates
The 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship race calendar features 24 live televised races. We’ll keep you updated on them right here.
- 6-8 March: Australia
- 13-15 March: China
- 27-29 March: Japan
- 10-12 April: Bahrain
- 17-19 April: Saudi Arabia
- 1-3 May: Miami
- 22-24 May: Canada
- 5-7 June: Monaco
- 12-14 June: Barcelona
- 26-28 June: Austria
- 3-5 July: Great Britain
- 17-19 July: Belgium
- 24-26 July: Hungary
- 21-23 August: Netherlands
- 4-6 September: Italy
- 11-13 September: Madrid
- 24-26 September: Azerbaijan
- 9-11 October: Singapore
- 23-25 October: USA
- 30 October–1 November: Mexico
- 6-8 November: Brazil
- 19-21 November: Las Vegas
- 27-29 November: Qatar
- 4-6 December: Abu Dhabi
F1 driver lineup (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 Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto
Alpine: Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto
Cadillac: Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas
