Sky F1 has confirmed that only the final hour of each day\u2019s running will be broadcast live during this week\u2019s second F1 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain.<\/p>\n
It comes after PlanetF1.com revealed last month that the first Bahrain test was set to have limited broadcast coverage.<\/p>\n
Sky F1 to show only final hour of each day\u2019s running in Bahrain<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n Formula 1\u2019s pre-season schedule has been expanded to three tests in F1 2026 to allow teams to get up to speed with their brand-new cars before the opening race in Australia on March 8.<\/p>\n The first test of the winter \u2013 officially titled \u2018Shakedown Week\u2019 \u2013 took place last month at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.<\/p>\n The remaining two tests of pre-season will be held in Bahrain across February 11-13 and 18-20.<\/p>\n Ranked: Martin Brundle and Jacques Villeneuve among best Sky F1 pundits<\/p>\n Ranking the best pundits in F1: Brundle, Rosberg, Hill and more all rated<\/a><\/p>\n Jacques Villeneuve\u2019s bold and savage quotes: Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton targeted<\/a><\/p>\n After the Barcelona shakedown was held behind closed doors, it was hoped that full broadcast coverage would resume when testing returned to Bahrain this month.<\/p>\n However, PlanetF1.com reported on January 22<\/a> that the first Bahrain test was also in line for limited television coverage.<\/p>\n Sky F1 has confirmed that only the final hour of each day\u2019s running will be shown live in addition to the broadcaster\u2019s regular evening roundup shows.<\/p>\n It means Sky will only broadcast live for 60 minutes from 1500 UK time [1800 in Bahrain] on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.<\/p>\n PlanetF1.com understands that full live coverage of testing will return for the final test in Bahrain later this month.<\/p>\n Unlike the Barcelona shakedown, the Bahrain test will be fully available to media and fans with PlanetF1.com reporting from on the ground in Sakhir.<\/p>\n Explained: How to cover a behind-closed-doors F1 test<\/p>\n A behind-closed-doors test meant the media was faced with an unusual challenge for the Barcelona shakedown.<\/p>\n While some outlets travelled to Spain regardless, PlanetF1.com opted to respect the wishes of the organisers and cover the test from afar.<\/p>\n The daily live blog was a central part of our coverage, attracting a high number of visitors on each of the five days of testing.<\/p>\n The emergence of a publicly available live timing system meant we were able to cover the first morning of the test pretty much as normal.<\/p>\n When that avenue was closed off later that day, however, it made our jobs harder, leaving us to rely mostly on updates from the teams and local media.<\/p>\n To take one example, when images emerged online of Gabriel Bortoleto\u2019s Audi stopped on track on Day 1<\/a>, PlanetF1.com swiftly received confirmation from the team that a \u201ctechnical issue\u201d had brought the R26 to a halt.<\/p>\n We were able to verify the unofficial laptimes from Barcelona within 30 minutes of the chequered flag on each of the five days of running.<\/p>\n Some teams like McLaren also gave us a helping hand by including their own position, best lap time and lap count in their end-of-day press releases.<\/p>\n Normal service will resume for the remaining two tests in Bahrain with PlanetF1.com bringing you all the news and reaction from the paddock in Sakhir.<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Thomas Maher<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n