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Formula 1’s off-season may have been shorter than ever, but it still feels like we’ve been waiting far too long for its return. Finally, the new era is nearly here, and this week in Spain, the next-generation cars will hit the track for the first time, ahead of the season opener in Australia from 6-8 March.

But this year’s pre-season isn’t quite what we’ve come to expect. The calendar has expanded to include an official private Shakedown and two full Pre-Season Tests, while Lando and Oscar will take to the track in a bold black-and-chrome McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 car, replacing our usual papaya-coloured challenger.

So, what exactly is a Shakedown? How does it differ from Pre-Season Testing? And where’s all the papaya gone?

Hang on, doesn’t pre-season usually start in February?

Normally, yes, but as Formula 1 prepares for a major regulations reset introducing smaller, lighter cars, brand-new power units, and advanced sustainable fuels, testing has been increased to give everyone more time to properly assess their revamped machinery.

For 2026, teams will have two pre-season tests in Bahrain, on 11-13 February and 18-20 February, following a Shakedown in Barcelona, giving us all nine days of track time, compared to the three we normally get.

With so many days of testing to be completed, and the 2026 season beginning on 6-8 March, F1 opted to run the Shakedown as early as January. Held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the Shakedown in Spain will be a private F1 event, closed to the media and fans, allowing us to run our new car for the first time.

The event will take place over five days, with teams permitted to run on three of them, enabling each to choose the days that best suit their testing objectives, when they want to run, and the expected weather conditions. Last week, Team Principal Andrea Stella confirmed that the team wouldn’t run until at least day two, to give themselves “as much time as possible for development”.

What is the difference between Shakedown and the two Pre-Season Tests?

A Shakedown refers to the first time a team runs a new car. It’s essentially a pre-season health check where teams can run the rule over their cars and confirm they function correctly. Normally limited to 200km and held separately, these sessions will, in 2026, be extended by three days with the introduction of an official all-team Shakedown in Spain.

The 2026 cars are an unknown quantity, totally new and unproven in real-world conditions, so these days are crucial for identifying any issues and ensuring the cars can run safely.

During this time, we’ll look to detect any leaks, wiring issues, or software problems, identify gremlins with the electronics and hydraulics, and simply make sure that all the parts fit correctly and do their jobs when the car is out on track. We’ll also be working closely with the Mercedes-AMG High Performance Power Trains team to ensure the engine runs as it should. It’s much more operational than performance-focused, saving everyone time when the proper running starts in Bahrain.

Of course, that doesn’t mean teams won’t attempt any performance runs, but it won’t be the priority for anyone at this stage.

Are there any benefits for drivers?

These cars are new for everyone, and while Lando and Oscar will have driven our 2026 challenger in the simulator, physically taking it around a track is an entirely different proposition. These tests provide crucial early mileage, allowing drivers to get comfortable behind the wheel, learn the basics of driving the cars, and build trust in the new machinery.

They can also lock in a baseline setup and deliver vital early feedback to the team, enabling any required changes to be made before pre-season testing and the opening round of the season.

Is this the McLaren livery for the 2026 Formula 1 season?

A McLaren livery without papaya? No, no, no. This design is a one-off, created for a specific purpose, and will only be used this week in Spain.

With this week’s Shakedown taking place ahead of our official season launch on 9 February, it means we won’t have revealed the livery design of our 2026 challenger when we hit the track in Barcelona.

To avoid spoiling the surprise, we’ll be running a one-off black and chrome-coloured design, emblazoned with 2026 across the engine cover and sidepods, allowing us to show off the MCL40, without revealing our new look before we’re ready to unveil it in Bahrain.

While the testing livery itself is only temporary, it offers a first look at something new that will carry over to our 2026 season design, with Lando debuting the No.1 on his car for the first time following his 2025 Drivers’ World Championship triumph.

The Shakedown will also mark the first time we’ve hit the track as the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team, following the announcement in August 2025 that they would become our Official Naming Partner.

Why not just use last year’s design?

Running an old design wouldn’t have felt right as F1 embarks on a new era, and it wouldn’t have been very McLaren to send out a car without a livery.

While our testing livery doesn’t look the same as the design we’ll be running in 2026, the two do share many physical similarities. Our Brand Creative team worked closely with the Vehicle Design and Aerodynamic teams to create a design that allows us to assess the car in its fully liveried form during these early running days.

This includes understanding the impact of a new FIA regulation mandating that at least 55% of the car be covered. By running a representative livery, we can evaluate the durability of the vinyl wrap in areas that were previously uncovered and are particularly sensitive to heat.

The design also introduces several new partners, alongside a refreshed look for our Google Gemini–branded wheel hubs.

Can I watch this week’s Shakedown in Spain?

Unfortunately, not. This week’s Shakedown in Barcelona is being held behind closed doors with no broadcasters or media present, but you will be able to keep up with the action via the official McLaren Racing website, app and social media channels, where we’ll be following Lando and Oscar’s progress and publishing daily test reports.

What’s next?

We’ll officially launch the 2026 McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 car online on Monday, 9 February at 15:00 GMT (10:00 EST/01:00 AEST) in Bahrain ahead of two official Pre-Season Tests, on 11-13 February and 18-20 February.