Max Verstappen will embark on his 11th campaign with the energy drink-backed team this year, setting his sights on claiming a fifth world championship

Formula 1’s 2026 pre-season testing kicked off in Barcelona on Monday, with McLaren and Red Bull both revealing their new challengers for the upcoming campaign.

The reigning champions, who secured both the drivers’ and constructors’ titles last season for the first time in over two decades, presented their MCL40 wearing an all-black temporary livery exclusively for this week’s running.

McLaren plan to showcase their official race colours at a dedicated launch event scheduled for February 9.

Meanwhile, Red Bull released carefully composed studio images of the RB22, with angles selected to conceal significant design elements from rival teams and observers.

The RB22 represents a watershed moment for the Milton Keynes outfit, marking their debut with a power unit manufactured entirely in-house.

This engine has been developed in partnership with American automotive giant Ford, ending Red Bull’s reliance on external suppliers.

The team had previously unveiled its new livery at an event in Detroit on January 15, though that presentation featured only a show car rather than the actual racing machine.

Unlike some competitors, Red Bull chose not to conduct any shakedown running before the Barcelona test, meaning the RB22 will make its track debut during this week’s sessions.

McLaren revealed their new challengers for the upcoming campaign

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Red Bull revealed their new challengers for the upcoming campaign

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Max Verstappen will embark on his 11th campaign with the energy drink-backed team this year, setting his sights on claiming a fifth world championship.

The Dutch driver will have a new partner in the garage following the departure of his previous teammate.

Isack Hadjar has earned promotion to the senior Red Bull squad after impressing during his debut season in Formula 1 last year.

The young Frenchman’s positive performances throughout 2025 convinced team bosses to elevate him alongside their star driver for the new regulatory era.

Lando Norris won the World Championship last year but faces a battle to reclaim his title | REUTERS

Last year’s RB21 showed considerable improvement during the latter half of the season, mounting significant pressure on McLaren’s championship bid.

Verstappen, who is a four-time world champion, nearly pulled off a remarkable comeback that has been hailed by many as the greatest in F1 history.

He fell three points short of the British driver.

The closed-door Barcelona test spans five days at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with each team permitted to participate on just three of those days.

Max Verstappen nearly pulled off a remarkable comeback that has been hailed by many as the greatest in F1 history

 | GETTY

This private running has been organised by the teams themselves as they work to understand their radically redesigned machinery ahead of the season opener in Melbourne on March 8.

McLaren confirmed they would skip Monday’s opening session and potentially Tuesday as well.

They opted to prioritise additional development time over early track running.

Williams will be absent from Barcelona altogether, with construction delays preventing their car from being completed in time for the test.