Fans will have to wait a little longer to see the new McLaren on track: the Woking-based team is following Ferrari’s lead and has revealed its approach for the 2026 F1 Barcelona tests. Just like the Maranello squad, McLaren will not hit the circuit before Tuesday, January 27. This decision is guided by a clear technical direction set by the team’s engineers.
The anticipation is almost over, as the new generation of cars born from the 2026 technical revolution is ready to make its debut. From January 26 to 30, teams will have access to the Barcelona track, selecting three days of testing to evaluate their new machinery. Attention will be focused almost exclusively on the Power Units, with several teams opting for a stripped-down aerodynamic setup that will only be fully revealed later in Bahrain.
McLaren waits for Spain for first shakedown
McLaren will conduct its first shakedown during the Barcelona tests, as confirmed by team principal Andrea Stella: “The shakedown will happen directly during the tests. We want to allow ourselves the maximum possible time for development.”
Skipping the first day like Ferrari
“We plan to start running on either the second or third day, so we won’t test on the first day,” explains Stella. “This has always been Plan A. There are so many changes that it’s not essential to be the first on track. We wanted to dedicate, as I said before, as much time as possible to development, because every day of design and development adds a bit of performance.”
“Hitting the track immediately gives you instant data, but at the same time it means you might have finalized the design and construction of the car relatively early. Consequently, part of your development time and ultimate performance could be compromised. Of course, I expect there will be updates to every car between the Barcelona tests and the first race.”
“However, we felt that, over the course of a season, it was important to launch the car with the most competitive configuration possible,” concludes Andrea Stella.
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