"The first test -- ahem, we mean "shakedown" -- of the 2026 Formula 1 preseason is now in the books. After five days of running at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the top of the timing screens had a distinctive red hue, a glow that those in Italy are sure to be basking in before the first formal test gets underway in Bahrain on Feb. 11."
"While we don't know a lot about these new cars yet (see more below), we can safely say they pass the eye test straight away. It was hard to really tell how the new cars would look based on the renders Formula 1 first put, but the final result looks magnificent. The cars are narrower, the rear wings are lower and the front wings slimmer, which when all put together creates a brilliant visual."
"It was a simple fix, as it turned out. Removing the ultra-complicated elements of the old cars, like the boxy endplates and the horrible mass of jagged and exposed carbon fiber, has created a a more streamlined-looking end product. While the old cars looked stodgy and over-built, the new ones have stripped back just enough to absolutely nail the overall look."
Five days of preseason running at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya produced clear early signals about the 2026 F1 cars. Timing screens were dominated by a red hue, and the first formal test is scheduled in Bahrain on Feb. 11. The new-generation cars appear narrower with lower rear wings and slimmer front wings, delivering a more streamlined, faster look. Designers removed complex elements like boxy endplates and exposed jagged carbon fiber, simplifying shapes and improving visuals. Several teams reverted to gloss liveries as weight constraints eased, with Red Bull’s finish singled out as especially striking.
Read at ESPN.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]