Get ready, racing fans, because the 2026 Formula 1 season is revving up, and the first week of Bahrain pre-season testing is here! But here's where it gets exciting: this year, not everything will be broadcast live, leaving fans hungry for every glimpse of the action. From February 11 to 13, teams will hit the Bahrain International Circuit, following their private shakedown in Barcelona. And this is the part most people miss—by the time testing begins, all teams will have unveiled their 2026 liveries, with McLaren and Aston Martin saving their grand reveals for launch events on February 9 in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Even Cadillac, the 11th team joining the grid in Australia, debuted its livery during the Super Bowl on February 8—talk about making an entrance!
Controversially, while previous years offered full broadcasts, this week’s testing will only air the final hour of each day. So, what does this mean for fans? You’ll need to be strategic about how you follow the action. For UK viewers, Sky Sports F1 will cover the final hour (15:00-16:00 GMT) each day, followed by a Testing Wrap at 20:00 GMT and Ted's Testing Notebook at 20:30 GMT. Globally, F1 TV and other broadcasters will also air the final hour, but for real-time updates throughout the day, Motorsport.com’s live blog is your go-to source.
Here’s the full schedule in various time zones to ensure you don’t miss a moment:
- Local Time (Bahrain): 10:00 - 19:00
- GMT: 07:00 - 16:00
- CET: 08:00 - 17:00
- PST: 23:00 (previous day) - 08:00
- EST: 02:00 - 11:00
- JST: 16:00 - 01:00 (next day)
- CST (China): 15:00 - 00:00 (next day)
Bold question for you: Is limiting live coverage a smart move to build anticipation, or does it leave fans feeling left out? Let us know in the comments! And while you’re at it, take our 5-minute survey to tell us what you’d like to see more of on Motorsport.com. Your opinion matters—let’s make this season unforgettable together!
