Bahrain pre-season testing 2026 dates, schedule, weather, UK start time, updates and how to watch or stream on Sky Sports
Formula 1 is in Bahrain for the final preparations ahead of the new 2026 season which will begin in Australia; watch live coverage from the final three days of pre-season testing in Bahrain on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 7am until 4pm each day on Sky Sports F1
Friday 13 February 2026 17:59, UK
Formula 1's preparations for its new era in 2026 come to a conclusion with one last test in Bahrain as the new racing campaign draws ever nearer.
After the private week of running in Barcelona in January and three days of testing in Sakhir, another three days at the Bahrain International Circuit takes place from this Wednesday before the new season.
Sky Sports F1 will be in Bahrain to keep you up to speed as the countdown continues to the start of the 24-race campaign in March...
- Five takeaways from the Barcelona shakedown
- F1 2026: Testing, calendar, line-ups, new regulations, how to watch on Sky Sports
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Bahrain Test Two: Wednesday 18th, Thursday 19th, Friday 20th February
- 6.50am-11.05am: Morning session Live
- 11.55am-4.10pm: Afternoon session Live
- 8pm: Testing Wrap
Get set for full live coverage of all three days of the second week of running in Bahrain.
Watch live on Sky Sports F1 with the test running from 7am-4pm UK time across morning and afternoon sessions, either side of a lunch break.
Each night our Testing Wrap will again bring you the best of the action and the key interviews from the day.
Also follow the daily live blog on skysports.com and the Sky Sports app for the key lap times, track updates and video clips, plus catch up with all the latest goings on rom Bahrain via reports from Craig Slater on Sky Sports News.
Bahrain track - Bahrain International Circuit
A fixture on F1's racing calendar for two decades, Bahrain has also become the sport's preferred home for pre-season running since 2021.
The 15-corner 3.36-mile circuit features long straights, low-to-medium-speed corners and heavy braking zones, and is also considered a good test of tyre wear, ensuring a good workout for a car. Drivers also often have to contend with breezy wind, while the venue's floodlighting system means testing can run into the cooler evening too.
Bahrain weather in Sakhir
With dry and warm weather all-but guaranteed in the Middle East, F1 teams should be able to complete unrestricted running across the six days. Expect daytime temperatures in the low-mid 20s.
How to watch or stream Sky Sports F1 in the UK and Ireland
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Watch every race of the 2026 F1 season live on Sky Sports, starting with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime
