2026 F1 Cars - General Thread

[Dream Theater]

Why would Ferrari miss the first day? They have already shaken down the car. Why wouldn’t they be ready?

The same thing applies for Mercedes then.
I think teams are evaluating weather conditions and the fact that on the first day the track surface will be really dirty.

[mzso]

I think teams are evaluating weather conditions and the fact that on the first day the track surface will be really dirty.

It might be really dirty Tuesday, if no-one chooses to run...

[mzso]

What? So no info whatsoever? Not even who ran or not? Do they have like military protection?

[FNTC]

https://x.com/SoyMotor/status/2015820403986280935

SoyMotor.com
@SoyMotor
ACTUALIZACIÓN DE TIEMPOS

1⃣ Hadjar - 1'18''452
2⃣ Russell - 1'18''696
3⃣ Colapinto - 1'20''189
4⃣ Antonelli - 1'20''700
5⃣ Lawson - 1'21''513
6⃣ Ocon - 1'22''920
7⃣ Bottas - 1'24''651
8⃣ Bortoleto - 1'25''296
9⃣ Pérez - Sin Tiempo

#F1 #F1Testing

Some people had access to the Barcelona timing server earlier today, but I think they blocked it now...

[bananapeel23]

https://x.com/SoyMotor/status/2015820403986280935

SoyMotor.com
@SoyMotor
ACTUALIZACIÓN DE TIEMPOS

1⃣ Hadjar - 1'18''452
2⃣ Russell - 1'18''696
3⃣ Colapinto - 1'20''189
4⃣ Antonelli - 1'20''700
5⃣ Lawson - 1'21''513
6⃣ Ocon - 1'22''920
7⃣ Bottas - 1'24''651
8⃣ Bortoleto - 1'25''296
9⃣ Pérez - Sin Tiempo

#F1 #F1Testing

Some people had access to the Barcelona timing server earlier today, but I think they blocked it now...

I'm really curious how hard Hadjar was pushing. 1'18 is very slow for Catalunya, barely race pace in 2025. Hopefully there is a bit more pace to be found.

[FNTC]

It was like 8-10C track temperature too

[venkyhere]

https://x.com/SoyMotor/status/2015820403986280935

SoyMotor.com
@SoyMotor
ACTUALIZACIÓN DE TIEMPOS

1⃣ Hadjar - 1'18''452
2⃣ Russell - 1'18''696
3⃣ Colapinto - 1'20''189
4⃣ Antonelli - 1'20''700
5⃣ Lawson - 1'21''513
6⃣ Ocon - 1'22''920
7⃣ Bottas - 1'24''651
8⃣ Bortoleto - 1'25''296
9⃣ Pérez - Sin Tiempo

#F1 #F1Testing

Some people had access to the Barcelona timing server earlier today, but I think they blocked it now...

I'm really curious how hard Hadjar was pushing. 1'18 is very slow for Catalunya, barely race pace in 2025. Hopefully there is a bit more pace to be found.

Even if he was pushing, I think it's a green tick for the team, reliability is the numero uno priority for an engine manufacturer running their PU first time, married to a chassis + cooling package ; that too a high speed ckt, with large loads applied on the chassis.

[AR3-GP]

I'm really curious how hard Hadjar was pushing. 1'18 is very slow for Catalunya, barely race pace in 2025. Hopefully there is a bit more pace to be found.

The faster they go, the harder it is to follow.

[TeamKoolGreen]

2022 F1 Barcelona pre-season test (Feb 23-25), top combined lap times:

1. Hamilton (Mercedes) - 1:19.138 (C5)
2. Russell (Mercedes) - 1:19.233 (C5)
3. Perez (Red Bull) - 1:19.556 (C4)
4. Norris (McLaren) - 1:19.568 (C4)
5. Leclerc (Ferrari) - 1:19.689 (C3)
6. Verstappen (Red Bull) - 1:19.756 (C3)
7. Vettel (Aston Martin) - 1:19.824 (C5)

[Emag]

2022 F1 Barcelona pre-season test (Feb 23-25), top combined lap times:

1. Hamilton (Mercedes) - 1:19.138 (C5)
2. Russell (Mercedes) - 1:19.233 (C5)
3. Perez (Red Bull) - 1:19.556 (C4)
4. Norris (McLaren) - 1:19.568 (C4)
5. Leclerc (Ferrari) - 1:19.689 (C3)
6. Verstappen (Red Bull) - 1:19.756 (C3)
7. Vettel (Aston Martin) - 1:19.824 (C5)

Not comparable. The old layout with the chicane that they were running in 2022 is 5-6 seconds slower than the current one.

[TeamKoolGreen]

I’m actually surprised that the reduction in size of the cars is so visible - it seemed to me quite a small change in length and width but it’s visually fairly noticeable. They look good.

It was noticable in 2022 as well. Funny how the GE cars get all of this flack for being boats when they were shorter than the previous boats.

[TeamKoolGreen]

2022 F1 Barcelona pre-season test (Feb 23-25), top combined lap times:

1. Hamilton (Mercedes) - 1:19.138 (C5)
2. Russell (Mercedes) - 1:19.233 (C5)
3. Perez (Red Bull) - 1:19.556 (C4)
4. Norris (McLaren) - 1:19.568 (C4)
5. Leclerc (Ferrari) - 1:19.689 (C3)
6. Verstappen (Red Bull) - 1:19.756 (C3)
7. Vettel (Aston Martin) - 1:19.824 (C5)

Not comparable. The old layout with the chicane that they were running in 2022 is 5-6 seconds slower than the current one.

Hmmm ok. Makes sense then I guess

[AR3-GP]

I saw a 3D mockup of the 2026 F1 car a few days ago on the internet, and the 3D file was deleted quite quickly. I managed to download it and render it myself. It seems that someone is genuinely working on this design—the floor details look quite convincing especially the fillet radius requirements. Hopefully, in the coming days, when the new car is officially revealed, we will see whether this was a genuine design concept or just a fantasy mockup.

edit on 2026/1/15
The image was deleted because it looks like a 3D concept model from Autosport magazine. The 3D file I downloaded online appears to be a genuine leak and the rights must belong to another party.

edit 2:
Oh man… I need to edit this post again. After reviewing the magazine cover in detail, it seems that their model is different from the one I previously posted. I am not an expert in this area, and I cannot tell whether this concept is genuine or not.

Can you repost screenshots? Which car does it look similar to?

[TeamKoolGreen]

The narrative was that these new cars are going to ride nice and high and nice and spongy suspension and be great for the drivers. The reality is, F1 cars were always stiff and low. And maybe the lack of ride control in the 2022 car was the reason for the stiff and hard ride. And not all the blame should be put on the venturi floor.

Here's George Russells 2026 car in action. Doesn't look any higher than the 2022 car at speed.

[GrizzleBoy]

The narrative was that these new cars are going to ride nice and high and nice and spongy suspension and be great for the drivers. The reality is, F1 cars were always stiff and low. And maybe the ride control of the previous gen car was the reason for the ride. And not just the venturi floor.

https://i.postimg.cc/0NqrxX7h/Screenshot-4878.png

I'm pretty sure the narrative wasnt that theyre going to ride high, but that they'd no longer not work if not slammed to the ground, hence despite your screen shot of a car low down at higher speed, we also see them with significantly more rake while at lower speeds or while braking.