F1 2026 pre-season testing live: Isack Hadjar fastest as new cars revealed in Barcelona
Follow live F1 action from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with the first glimpse of the 2026 cars on the racetrack
The 2026 Formula 1 season is upon us and with just six weeks until the first race in Australia, the teams are now preparing for a campaign of unknowns.
New regulations this season mean it is a clean slate for all 11 teams, with Cadillac the first new team on the grid since Haas in 2016. Audi have also taken over Sauber, with Ford partnering with Red Bull to build their own engines.
McLaren won both world championships last year, with Lando Norris claiming his first drivers’ title. Yet this season, Mercedes are rumoured to be the frontrunners, though we won’t know anything until we see the cars out on track.
This week’s test behind-closed-doors in Barcelona is the first of three pre-season sessions for the teams, with official tests in Bahrain next month (11-13 February and 18-20 February). However, Williams won’t be present this week due to delays to their car.
Follow live updates from F1 pre-season testing with The Independent.
ICYMI: How Lewis Hamilton is making his mark at Ferrari. -‘This car has a clear direction’
By Kieran Jackson
Twelve months into his multi-year Ferrari contract, Lewis Hamilton’s re-emergence into the public domain on Friday did not carry the weight of giddiness and expectation of a year ago. In hindsight, perhaps the delirium of his debut season was a bit too much for all involved.
Yet 2026 is an open book – new regulations and potentially a new pecking order – and the first season in which Hamilton can fully stamp his imprint on a new-look car. Whether or not the boffins in Maranello have heeded the knowledge and experience of Hamilton’s 19 years in Formula 1, however, is another matter altogether.
Full piece below:
How Lewis Hamilton is making his mark at Ferrari: ‘This car has a clear direction’
Hadjar quickest this morning
The Red Bull driver has just gone quicker, setting a 1:18:835, nearly two seconds quicker than Kimi Antonelli (1:20:700) in second!
3. Franco Colapinto - 1:21:348
4. Liam Lawson - 1:21:864
5. Esteban Ocon - 1:24:520
6. Valtteri Bottas - 1:24:651
7. Gabriel Bortoleto - 1:25:296
And they’ve now broken for a lunch break.
Isack Hadjar sets the pace
The Red Bull driver has gone top of the standings in the last 30 mins or so, with a time of 1:20:300, according to reports.
Kimi Antonelli is four-tenths of a second off, as this morning’s session draws to a close.
Shoud be stressed how little should be read into times at this stage, given we don’t know what run-plans or tyre compounds the teams are prioritising. It’s mostly about reliability checks...
Audi announce signing of British driver
Away from the Barcelona test, Audi have announced the signing of British driver Freddie Slater to their new driver development programme.
The 17-year-old will race in Formula 3 this season with Trident Motorsport.
Slater said: “Joining forces with a respected team like Trident Motorsport for Formula 3 and having the backing of Audi Revolut F1 Team is a massive opportunity. I am fully focused on working hard and making the most of this pivotal step towards my goal of reaching Formula One."
One hour left of morning session
With just an hour left before the lunch break, these are the lap times being widely reported on social media:
- Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes: 24 laps, 1:22.352
- Liam Lawson, VCARB: 20 laps, 1:23.113
- Isack Hadjar, Red Bull: 13 laps, 1:23.606
- Franco Colapinto, Alpine: 15 laps, 1:24.277
- Esteban Ocon, Haas: 31 laps, 1:25.060
- Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi: 27 laps, 1:25.296
- Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac: 10 laps. 1:31.853
Second red flag
Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto has stopped on the uphill final sector of the Barcelona circuit, around turn 11.
There are marshals on track who have wheeled the car away...
Not ideal for the new German team.
First red flag
Reports are coming in that we have our first red flag of 2026.
Franco Colapinto’s Alpine car is said to have stopped at the pit-exit.
A brief stoppage and we’re back to green-flag conditions...
Red Bull back on track
Having spent an hour in the garage between 9am-10am (GMT), Red Bull are back out on track.
We’re hearing Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli has set the fastest lap so far, a 1:22:352, but that’s unconfirmed.
Cadillac start their F1 journey
A proud moment for F1’s 11th team this morning!
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