The Barcelona Shakedown Debrief

Original Written Date: February 1, 2026

Publisher: MMG

Posting Date: TBA

Over a month after the checkered flag in Abu Dhabi, and the crowning of a new World Champion. The Formula One grid descends into Barcelona for the long-awaited shakedown of the 2026 season. New engines, new cars, and a new challenger; the 2026 season starts here. 

Over the course of five days at Catalunya, we have our first glimpse into the next generation of Formula One as teams begin to find out how their 2026 challengers would fare in their first test. While testing times and lap counts don't indicate where all the teams are in terms of performance, they are still an early indication of where each team is, separated before the first competitive sessions of the season in Melbourne. So, how did each team fare out?