Why hiding the first 2026 test is a wrong move by F1 teams
Keeping the first F1 2026 testing session private may protect appearances, but it also deprives the series of a rare opportunity to show how a new era truly begins
I have just been browsing through the latest shots of the track at Valencia and something caught my eye… see if you can spot what I’m talking about.

Yes… the runble strips have been painted in ING colours. I have a suspicion someone deep in the bank’s marketing department is getting a small bonus, or at the very least, a pat on the back.
Keeping the first F1 2026 testing session private may protect appearances, but it also deprives the series of a rare opportunity to show how a new era truly begins
With more factory-backed teams than customers and a ruleset that rewards integration, 2026 could mark Formula 1's return to a manufacturers' championship
The covers are about to come off the new generation of grand prix racers: F1 2026 car and livery launch dates announced so far
A complete guide to every Formula 1 team's reserve and third drivers ahead of the 2026 reset