F1 Pre-Season Drama as Two Teams Break Down in First Barcelona Session
The opening day of Formula 1 testing ahead of the 2026 season has stopped twice in the first two hours after two cars broke down on the circuit.
The opening test, referred to as a 'shakedown', is taking place over five days at the Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona.
It is taking place privately, meaning no video cameras are present at the circuit and, as such, there is relatively little information available bar live timing data.
Out of the 11 teams, Williams are the only constructor who will not be present across the entire five-day test due to chassis issues.
Advert
The remaining teams will have structured run times over the next five days, with only seven drivers taking part on day one.
Given the major changes in aerodynamic and power unit regulations for 2026, the opening test will represent something of a trial run for each team as they all attempt to diagnose any last-minute gremlins before the Bahrain test next month.
As a result, lap times themselves will mean close to zero at this stage - though teams who top the timing sheets, with no car performance issues or reliability problems, will of course count the five days as a success.
In the first two hours of testing, there were early issues for both Audi and Alpine.
Alpine driver Franco Colapinto stopped on track shortly after 10am, before Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto did likewise shortly after the restart.
In Bortoleto's case, it was speculated that an engine issue was to blame, and the Brazilian notably has not yet returned to the track since running resumed.
However, details are scarce at present, and the teams themselves are not providing updates on the test.
Ferrari, McLaren and Aston Martin are all set to miss day one, according to F1 journalist Chris Medland, but are set to line up on day two.
Topics: Formula 1
Ryan Smart