F1 2026 shakedowns: Alpine and Mercedes join Audi for Barcelona filming days. As the 2026 F1 season approaches, Audi, Alpine, and Mercedes run filming days in Barcelona.

After the winter break, Formula 1 is slowly starting to wake up. Over the next few days, almost all teams will reveal the liveries of their cars in preparation for the first pre-season testing session in Barcelona, scheduled from January 26 to 30. Today, however, the silence will be broken by the sound of Audi: the German team will carry out a filming day at the Montmeló circuit.

For Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, it will be their first test under the new management, which needs to run the systems and will make use of the 100 km allocated for sponsor video footage—which, as everyone knows, doubles as unofficial track testing.

Audi is in good company, as reports indicate that next week both Alpine and Mercedes have booked the Spanish circuit for their own filming days. The dates are not yet official: for the French team, it is said to be Sunday the 11th, while for the Brackley-based team it should be Sunday or Monday.

As the pit lane in Barcelona begins to buzz with activity, these early shakedowns mark the true end of the winter hiatus. While Audi’s debut is the headline story, the presence of established giants like Mercedes and Alpine underscores the urgency every team feels heading into the 2026 technical revolution. These filming days provide a vital safety net, allowing engineers to iron out any “teething issues” in a controlled environment before the high-pressure environment of official testing begins. For the fans, the sight of these new cars on track is a welcome sign that the long wait for the next generation of Formula 1 is finally over.