Take two!

The lights are about to go out on a monumental new chapter for Formula 1, and the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) is set to ignite it!

The lights are about to go out on a monumental new chapter for Formula 1, and the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) is set to ignite it!

Get ready, F1 fanatics, because the Kingdom of Bahrain will host not one, but two thrilling rounds of F1 Pre-Season Testing 2026 next February, launching a truly transformative era for the sport.

The adrenaline will kick in over six crucial days from February 11^th to the 13th and from February 18^th to the 20^th of next year. Sakhir's selection for the sixth consecutive year (following a legacy stretching back to 2009) underscores its undeniable importance as the ultimate proving ground.

“It is once again a tremendous honour to be selected as the host venue for F1 Pre-season Testing in 2026,” said BIC Chief Executive, Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa. “We extend our thanks to Formula 1, the FIA, and all the teams for choosing Bahrain yet again.”

This isn't just routine testing, though; it's the dawn of a new F1, complete with groundbreaking regulations and the highly anticipated arrival of the 11th team, Cadillac. Imagine the spectacle- all 11 teams gathered, pushing their brand-new machines to the limit under the Bahraini sun. Fans will get the exclusive first glimpse of these revolutionary cars and witness the very first laps of the sleek Cadillac F1 Team, joining the established titans like McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari.

“The tests will be a historic and hugely important occasion for the sport,” added Shaikh Salman. “We look forward to welcoming them and fans from around the world to Sakhir in February and seeing the new cars in action.”
                                                                

The pre-season tests will pave the way for the start of the new season, which will kick off a couple of weeks later with the Australian Grand Prix weekend, scheduled for March 6th to the 8th. The season will continue with races in China and Japan, before returning to the island for the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 from April 10 to 12, the fourth round of the 24-race championship.

At next season’s pre-season testing, F1 enthusiasts will have the chance to see the sport’s superstar drivers and their teams hard at work developing their cars ahead of the season.

Pre-registration is now open at Bahraingp.com for fans who are interested in attending pre-season testing and the race.

For more information, visit bahraingp.com, call the BIC Hotline at 17450000, or follow the Bahrain International Circuit on social media.