Formula 1's all-new 2026 cars debut at a five-day Barcelona shakedown from January 26-30. Sky Sports F1's Bernie Collins, former Aston Martin strategist, answers key questions for teams and fans. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya event is a private test, allowing teams extra preparation before official testing in Bahrain and the Australian Grand Prix.

Collins explains that teams began dedicated work on these cars in 2025, shifting resources from their 2025 models. Works teams hold an integration advantage over customers, with live engine model updates aiding chassis design. The Mercedes engine program benefits from four data sources, while rivals like Audi and Honda have just one car each.

The Barcelona focus will be on reliability over performance, integrating new control electronics. Teams will gather fundamental data, performing ride height sweeps without historic benchmarks. With three weeks between this test and Bahrain, aero development will accelerate, though the first cars will be sensor-heavy and heavier than the final Melbourne spec.