Formula 1 testing began in Bahrain on Wednesday, marking the first public appearance of all teams' 2026 cars. The Bahrain International Circuit hosted teams after the closed Barcelona shakedown, where Williams missed testing due to their car not being ready.

Several notable changes were visible on track. Red Bull unveiled a gloss-finish livery reminiscent of their 2005 debut, while Cadillac entered as the 11th team with experienced drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez combining 16 wins and 106 podiums. Audi replaced Sauber, retaining Nico Hulkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto. The paddock also welcomed 18-year-old British rookie Arvid Lindblad making his debut for Racing Bulls.

Aston Martin's car drew significant attention, designed under Adrian Newey's leadership. Lando Norris, fresh off his world championship, predicted "more chaos in races" due to new regulations. Williams worked to make up for lost time after missing Barcelona testing, while McLaren rotated drivers between Oscar Piastri and Norris. The testing provides crucial data as teams prepare for a season with complex new rules that drivers like Lewis Hamilton have already criticized as "ridiculously complex."