PREVIEW: 2026 Pre-Season Testing gets underway in Barcelona

After the winter break, FIA Formula 2 cars return to the track for pre-season testing in Barcelona ahead of the 2026 season.

Teams and drivers will be aiming to gather as much data as they can heading to Melbourne for Round 1 of the campaign, with everyone aiming for the Championship.

Here is what you need to know for Formula 2 pre-season testing.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The three days of testing take place from February 17-19 before the 2026 campaign gets underway, and they are crucial as teams and drivers aim to get up to speed as quickly as possible.

All three days begin at 09:00 local time around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, running to 12:00 before the lunch break ends the opening segment. Running on days one and two resumes at 14:00 and lasts until 17:00 local time, while on day three, action begins again at 13:00 local time and ends at 16:00.

Teams have the Soft and Hard compound Pirelli tyres available to them.

STAT PACK

• 13 drivers return from the 2025 season while nine rookies join the Formula 2 grid in 2026
• The fastest time from last year’s pre-season test was a 1:23.660 set by Gabriele Minì and PREMA Racing on the morning of Day 2
• Alexander Dunne is the highest-placed driver from last year that returns for another F2 campaign in 2026, having finished fifth in the 2025 Standings

WHERE TO FOLLOW

FIA Formula 2 testing will be available via the official website with the all-new live blog, providing regular updates on all the times, lap counts and progress of all the teams and drivers. Reports and reaction will follow on each day, while behind-the-scenes content will be uploaded on the F2 Instagram, TikTok and X accounts, covering all your pre-season needs.

2026 BARCELONA PRE-SEASON TESTING ENTRY LIST