
F1 issues pre-season testing dates ahead 2026 season; Azerbaijan Grand Prix moved up a day
Formula 1 and the FIA on Monday announced the pre-season testing dates ahead of the 2026 F1 season, which will see the latest set of regulations implemented.
The new season will see three tests take place in Barcelona and Bahrain during the months of January and February before the start of racing action.
F1 also announced that the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be shifted from Sunday, September 27, to Saturday, September 26, to accommodate a national day after a request from the race promoter and government stakeholders. All events during the Azerbaijan GP weekend will therefore be held a day earlier than scheduled.
Here are the details of the three preseason tests scheduled ahead of the 2026 season:
Test one will be a private test and will take place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya between 26–30 January.
Test two will take place at the Bahrain International Circuit between 11–13 February.
Test three will take place at the Bahrain International Circuit between 18–20 February.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Mint
34 minutes ago
- Mint
F1 Box Office Collection Day 4: Brad Pitt movie sees 66.13% drop after strong weekend, mints THIS amount
F1 Box Office Collection Day 4: Brad Pitt starrer sports drama is making waves at the box office. Joseph Kosinski directorial movie has slowed down after strong performance over the weekend. At the India box office, the "F1: The Movie" witnessed 66.13 percent drop in earnings on Monday, June 30, and raked in ₹ 2.76 crore net across all languages. During its 4-day box office run, the movie minted ₹ 24.31 crore net in India, according to industry tracker Sacnilk. After collecting ₹ 5.5 crore net in India on its opening day, F1 amassed an impressive ₹ 15.9 crore net on its first weekend. Meanwhile, it did a business of $57 million in United States, by raking in $2.3 million on Sunday. Globally, of Apple Original Films' F1 raked in $146.3 million, according to Deadline's reported 3-day estimate. Marking the biggest global 3-day collection for Brad Pitt, it is Joseph Kosinski second biggest opener after Top Gun: Maverick which collected $126.7 million in 3 days. Produced under the banners Plan B Entertainment, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Monolith Pictures, Apple Studios and Dawn Apollo Films, the Hollywood movie stars Javier Bardem, Tobias Menzies, Kerry Condon, and Damson Idris in pivotal roles, alongside Brad Pitt. Made on a budget of $250 million, the movie first screened at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 16 this year and made its theatrical debut in worldwide on June 27. F1 producer Jerry Bruckheimer described working experience with 'F1: The Movie' cast in an interview with Deadline and stated, 'Joseph Kosinski came up with a great story, and Brad Pitt really helped. Lewis Hamilton got us through. I'm here and certainly along for the ride, but you gotta give credit to the creative guys, just the amount of effort Brad and Damson Idris went to learn how to drive these cars." He added, "They model the car seats to their bodies. We had to start them in a road car, since these automobiles are dangerous. It was a real long four-month process.'


News18
41 minutes ago
- News18
Brad Pitt's F1 Mints Rs 24 Crore In Four Days
Last Updated: Besides Brad Pitt, F1 The Movie also features Javier Bardem, Damson Idris, Tobias Menzeles and Kerry Condon in key supporting roles. Brad Pitt has made a thunderous return to the cinema with his new sports drama F1 The Movie. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, best known for directing Top Gun: Maverick, the film has earned a total of Rs 24.65 crore net within just four days of its release. F1 has been released in the country in four languages: English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. According to Sacnilk, F1 earned an impressive Rs 3 crore on Monday, June 30, alone, showing only a slight drop from its opening-day collection of Rs 5.5 crore. This is a positive sign that people are enjoying Brad Pitt's new sports drama, based on Formula One racing. What's even more impressive is that F1 is a standalone film and not part of any series or franchise, unlike many Hollywood movies that do well in India. It is an original story, which is competing strongly against new Bollywood releases like Aamir Khan's Sitaare Zameen Par and Kajol's Maa. People have been loving the movie in IMAX, which is also giving it a boost for the second weekend. If it keeps going like this, F1 might soon cross the Rs 60 crore, just like Final Destination: Bloodlines did. And globally, experts believe that the movie has a possibility of crossing $500 million and more if the upcoming releases, such as Superman and Jurassic World Rebirth, do not perform as well as expected. Besides Brad Pitt, F1 The Movie also features Javier Bardem, Damson Idris, Tobias Menzeles and Kerry Condon in key supporting roles. The racing drama follows the story of Sonny Hayes (Pitt), a New York City-based Formula One driver who left racing following a horrible crash. After his forced retirement from Formula One, he started racing in other disciplines and working as a taxi driver. Decades later, he returns to the high-stakes world of racing with only one wish to prove himself again. He is brought back to Formula One by his friend and former teammate, Ruben Cervantes, played by Javier Bardem, to train his team. Sonny is tasked with training a rookie driver, Joshua Pierce, played by Damson Idris. In addition to the lead cast, the film will also feature professional F1 drivers such as Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Sergio Perez, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, among others. Released on June 27, F1 is running in theatres. First Published:


NDTV
14 hours ago
- NDTV
Formula 1 Confirms 2026 Pre-Season Testing Schedule, Azerbaijan GP Date Shifted
Formula 1 and the FIA have officially unveiled the pre-season testing schedule for the 2026 campaign, setting the stage for what promises to be an intriguing year of fresh regulations and fierce competition. In preparation for the new season, teams will get three crucial opportunities to fine-tune their machinery, starting with a private test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from January 26 to 30. "Formula 1 and the FIA are today announcing the 2026 pre-season testing dates. In 2026, there will be three tests: Test one will be a private test and will take place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya between January 26–30. "Test two will take place at the Bahrain International Circuit between February 11–13. Test three will take place at the Bahrain International Circuit between February 18–20," FIA said in a statement. This closed-door session is expected to provide teams with a chance to gather vital early data on their radically redesigned 2026 cars. The action will then shift to the Middle East, where the Bahrain International Circuit will host two official tests under the watchful eyes of fans and media. The first Bahrain test runs from February 11 to 13, followed by a final tune-up from February 18 to 20 at the same venue. These sessions will offer the final glimpse of form before the season-opener in Australia, scheduled for March 6-8 at Melbourne's Albert Park. In addition to confirming the testing programme, Formula 1 also announced a tweak to the 2026 race calendar. Following a request from local organisers and government authorities, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku will now take place on Saturday, September 26 instead of the originally planned Sunday, September 27. The shift accommodates a national day celebration, with the entire event schedule moving forward by one day. All teams have been notified of the change, giving them ample time to adjust their plans for what is shaping up to be a busy and unpredictable season.