Max Verstappen Predicts Unusual Red Bull F1 2026 Test

Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Max Verstappen expects Red Bull Racing to spend a significant portion of the opening Formula 1 2026 test session inside the garage, as teams begin the process of understanding cars and power units built under an entirely new technical rule set.

The full Formula 1 grid is scheduled to attend the first official test of the season at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from January 26 to January 30. Each team will be limited to three days of running, with the test held behind closed doors to allow engineers to focus on analysing initial data rather than outright performance.

Verstappen believes the Barcelona test will serve primarily as an exploratory phase, where teams prioritise system checks, data correlation, and baseline understanding over mileage accumulation. He suggested that limited early knowledge of the new chassis and power unit concepts will naturally reduce time spent on track.

“None of us have any idea about the new car or the engine,” Verstappen told Blick.
“I think that during the first tests in Barcelona starting on 26 January, we'll be spending more time in the garages than out on the track.”

The cautious approach reflects the scale of change introduced by the 2026 regulations, which significantly alter aerodynamic philosophy and elevate the importance of power unit performance. Verstappen indicated that clearer performance trends are unlikely to emerge until the second phase of testing in Bahrain.

“Hopefully, we'll all be a bit wiser after the two tests in Bahrain in February,” he added.

The Barcelona test also marks the beginning of a new era for Red Bull, as the Milton Keynes-based team runs its own internally developed power unit for the first time in Formula 1. The project has been carried out in technical partnership with Ford, with engine competitiveness expected to play a decisive role in shaping the competitive order under the new regulations.

Despite visiting the Red Bull factory on several occasions, Verstappen stressed that there is currently no clear indication of how the team’s power unit will compare to its rivals. He suggested that uncertainty remains widespread across the grid at this early stage of development.

“Yes, I’ve been to the factory a few times,” Verstappen said.
“But as I said, everyone is still in the dark.”

Overall, Verstappen’s assessment underlines Red Bull’s measured approach to the opening phase of the Formula 1 2026 cycle, where technical understanding and reliability are prioritised over headline lap times. The true impact of this strategy will only become apparent as testing progresses toward the season-opening race, with all developments continuing to be covered by Sportrik Media at https://sportrik.com/en.