F1 event labelled 'PATHETIC' as fans shut out

Russell, Mercedes, Bahrain, testing, 2024 — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 event labelled 'PATHETIC' as fans shut out

F1's first testing event takes place behind closed doors

By Sam Cook.

Tuesday 13 January 2026 18:58

F1's behind closed doors testing event has been labelled 'pathetic' by a former general manager in the sport.

There are 11 days of testing taking place ahead of the 2026 season, in an attempt to try and help teams to get used to the new regulation changes that are sweeping into the sport for next year.

Barcelona will see a five-day testing event in late January, before two three-day events in Bahrain in February ahead of the season starting officially in March with the Australian Grand Prix.

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But the five days of testing in Barcelona are set to be privately conducted, away from the eyes of F1 fans, in the first shakedown for the new 2026 cars.

Now, Windsor has called the decision not to open up the testing event to fans 'pathetic', stating that the sport could attract so many fans to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya even just for a testing event.

"It's a perfect opportunity to really sell F1 before the season starts," Windsor said on the Cameron CC YouTube channel.

"The fans should have access to the test and they should all be there. It's not as if it's a Fiorano test or some sort of Silverstone shakedown, it's a proper test.

"It's a Formula 1 test and it's a great thing. And they should start having those hot laps at tests too and Pirelli should be allowed to do those hot laps at tests, there should be 50,000, 60,000 people at every day of the test.

"That's what testing should be all about, and they're missing a massive opportunity in not doing that. The only word I can think of is pathetic."

When are the 2026 F1 car launches?

When are the F1 2026 car launches?
Team	Location	Date	How to watch
Red Bull	Detroit, USA	January 15	Red Bull Racing website, YouTube
Racing Bulls	Detroit, USA	January 15	Red Bull Racing website, YouTube
Haas	Online	January 19	Haas F1 website and social pages
Audi	Berlin, Germany	January 20	YouTube, Audi social channels
Ferrari	Maranello, Italy	January 23	YouTube, Ferrari social media pages
Alpine	Barcelona, Spain	January 23	YouTube, Alpine social media pages
Mercedes	Online	February 2	Mercedes social channels
Williams	TBC	February 3	TBC
Cadillac	Santa Clara, USA	February 8	Cadillac F1 website, YouTube
Aston Martin	TBC	February 9	TBC
McLaren	TBC	February 9	TBC