2026 F1 prep ramps up: two teams rumored for Barcelona filming days. Audi has kicked off the 2026 F1 season.

F1 | Two teams ready for the filming day: where and when

Audi was the first team to take to the track for the 2026 Formula 1 season, but in the coming days, two more teams could already be on track for the filming day. On Friday, January 9, Audi completed the first laps with its new car. Every F1 team has 200 km available for what is known as the filming day. These laps do not count as official testing but are part of promotional activities.

Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto were the stars of the day for the German team, which chose to run the first kilometers in an all-black livery. Now, two more teams are reportedly ready to follow suit in Barcelona ahead of the pre-season testing. Here’s what we know.

The teams

Drivers and teams are finalizing the last details on their new cars. In January, from the 26th to the 30th, the first pre-season testing session will take place in Barcelona behind closed doors. Before that, however, some teams have opted to use the filming day to put their cars on track and gather initial data. Audi chose the Barcelona circuit, and now two other teams appear to be following the path set by the former Kick Sauber team.

Reports indicate that Alpine has booked the Barcelona circuit for this week, suggesting a day dedicated to the filming day. In addition to the Enstone-based team, the HAAS team is also expected to run their first kilometers ahead of the official tests scheduled for the end of January.

At this stage, neither Alpine nor the Haas team have officially confirmed their presence in Spain. However, with the 2026 technical revolution representing such a massive leap into the unknown, getting the systems checked and the power unit integrated early is a priority for every technical director in the pit lane. Fans are eagerly waiting to see if these shakedowns will reveal any early clues about the design philosophy of the A526 and the new Haas VF-26.

The movement in Barcelona marks the true beginning of the 2026 era, as teams like Alpine and Haas transition from computer simulations to real-world tarmac. These preliminary filming days are more than just a photo op; they represent a high-stakes race against time to ensure basic reliability before the intense pressure of official testing begins. As more teams prepare to break cover in Spain, the paddock is finally getting its first look at how the next generation of Formula 1 is taking shape.