Formula 1 News: Report on Day 2 of the 2026 Pre-Season Testing in Barcelona

The second day of the 2026 Formula 1 pre-season shakedown test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya saw limited action, with only Ferrari and Red Bull taking to the track amid challenging weather conditions.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

This private test, focused on the all-new 2026 cars under revised regulations, emphasized system checks and reliability rather than outright performance. Mercedes opted out due to the poor weather forecast, while other teams like McLaren and Aston Martin delayed their programs. The session ran from morning to late afternoon, with drivers completing installation laps, wet-weather running, and data gathering despite intermittent rain.

Weather and Track Conditions

The day began with dry conditions but quickly deteriorated as rain arrived mid-morning, leading to a mix of damp and wet track surfaces. This prompted teams to switch to intermediate and full wet tires. The on-off showers continued into the afternoon, creating variable grip levels and limiting dry running. Despite the weather, both participating teams managed significant mileage, using the conditions to test tire behavior and car systems in the wet.

Participating Teams and Drivers

Only two teams ran on Day 2:

– Ferrari (SF-26): Charles Leclerc handled the morning session, completing 64 laps primarily on medium, full wet, and intermediate tires. Lewis Hamilton took over in the afternoon for his first drive in the new car, adding 57 laps on full wets and intermediates. The team totaled 121 laps (approximately 560 kilometers), focusing on preliminary checks with no major reliability issues.

– Red Bull (RB22): Max Verstappen ran in the morning, logging 27 laps before the heavier rain. Isack Hadjar stepped in for the afternoon, completing 51 laps until an incident ended their day early.

Other teams sat out: Mercedes skipped due to rain predictions, McLaren confirmed they would start on Day 3 and run through Friday, Aston Martin prepared in the garage but planned to debut on Thursday or Friday, and Williams confirmed they would not participate at all as their FW48 was not ready.

Related Video: Summary of Day 2 running

Key Events and Performance

The session was not about setting competitive times, as no official timing was provided, and the focus remained on debugging new systems amid the major regulation changes. Unofficial lap times, collated from various sources, showed dry runs in the morning and slower wet laps later. Ferrari’s program was uninterrupted and productive, while Red Bull faced minor setbacks.

Unofficial Day 2 Results

Note: Verstappen and Leclerc’s times were set in dry conditions early on, while Hadjar and Hamilton’s were in the wet. Verstappen’s pace was about 1.4 seconds slower than the quickest from Day 1.

Key Incidents

– Early in the morning, Max Verstappen ran through the gravel at Turn 5 during an out-lap, triggering a brief red flag but causing no damage.
– In the final hour of the afternoon, Isack Hadjar spun at Turn 14 (a fast right-hander leading to the main straight) in wet conditions, hitting the barrier with the rear of the RB22. The crash damaged the rear wing and suspension, ending Red Bull’s session with a red flag. Hadjar was unhurt, and the team has spare parts available as they’ve already used two of their three permitted days.

These incidents highlighted the challenges of the wet track but did not derail the overall objectives of the shakedown.

Driver and Team Quotes

Drivers and team personnel emphasized the productive nature of the day despite the weather, focusing on learning the new cars.

– Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): “It was good to be back in the car and to start learning a completely new package. Today was about system checks and understanding how everything works, rather than performance, especially with the mixed conditions. We completed our program and everything behaved as expected, which is a positive start and a solid base to build on.”

– Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari): “It was an intense but productive first day, especially with the mixed weather conditions. We managed to get good mileage on the car and gather a lot of useful information, which is important with such a big regulation change. There were no major issues and that gives us a solid foundation to keep learning and building over the next days.”

– Matteo Togninalli (Ferrari Head of Track Engineering): “Considering the conditions, it was a productive day for us. Despite the rain, we completed solid mileage and, most importantly, had no major reliability issues, which is the key priority with a new car and power unit. It’s still very early to talk about performance: the focus now is on understanding the car, learning its behavior and building knowledge step by step over the coming days focusing on ourselves.”

What’s Next

Day 3 commences on Wednesday, with McLaren expected to make their debut and run through the final three days. Ferrari and Red Bull may continue or rest, having flexibility in their three-day allocations. Aston Martin is slated for Thursday and Friday, while the remaining teams (Haas, Racing Bulls, Audi, Alpine, Cadillac) could join based on weather improvements. More rain is forecast, potentially influencing participation. The shakedown continues through Friday, providing teams further opportunities to refine their 2026 challengers before the official season.