Thursday\u2019s fast-paced F1 news includes Andrea Stella confirming that McLaren will miss the start of F1 2026 pre-season testing in Barcelona as per the team\u2019s schedule.<\/p>\n
With Lewis Hamilton branded the big loser after Ferrari\u2019s race engineer change, and the arrival of the Mercedes W17, here\u2019s today\u2019s roundup\u2026<\/p>\n
McLaren planning to miss start of Barcelona test<\/p>\n
McLaren is planning to miss the start of F1\u2019s first pre-season test in Barcelona next week, team principal Andrea Stella has confirmed.<\/p>\n
Teams will be limited to a maximum of three days of running across five available test days between January 26-30.<\/p>\n
Stella confirmed to select media including PlanetF1.com that McLaren has no intention of taking to the track on the first day of testing \u2013 and may not leave the garage until day three of five.<\/p>\n
Read more:\u00a0McLaren plans delayed Barcelona test start for MCL40<\/a><\/p>\n Mercedes launches W17 car for F1 2026<\/p>\n The Mercedes F1 team has unveiled the new W17 car for the F1 2026 season.<\/p>\n Much is expected of Mercedes ahead of the new season after being limited to just seven wins across F1\u2019s ground-effect era between 2022 and 2025.<\/p>\n Mercedes was named in recent reports that some engine manufacturers have identified a loophole in the new engine rules.<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a0Mercedes launches W17 car ahead of F1 2026 season<\/a><\/p>\n What to expect from the Ferrari SF-26<\/p>\n Ferrari will launch its F1 2026 car, the SF-26, on Friday.<\/p>\n A number of design details have emerged about the SF-26 in recent months, with Ferrari\u2019s new engine expected to be particularly innovative.<\/p>\n Ahead of launch day, PlanetF1.com has rounded up everything you need to know about the SF-26 in one place.<\/p>\n Read more:\u00a0Ferrari SF-26: What we\u2019re hearing about Ferrari\u2019s F1 2026 car<\/a><\/p>\n Limited coverage expected for first Bahrain F1 2026 test<\/p>\n Limited television coverage is expected to continue at the second F1 2026 pre-season in Bahrain next month, PlanetF1.com has learned.<\/p>\n Testing has been broadcast live in full over recent years, with three days of winter testing held in Bahrain since 2023.<\/p>\n PlanetF1.com understands that only the final hour of each day\u2019s running at the first Bahrain test \u2013 due to be held across February 11-13 \u2013 will be broadcast live. Full live coverage is expected to return for the final test at the same venue on February 18-20.<\/p>\n