What to know ahead of season opener. Plus: What you think an F1 movie sequel should be called

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Welcome back to Prime Tire, where we’re thinking about the 27 hours of F1 testing this week, which is about the time it takes a sloth to digest a single leaf. Chew on that.

Hope our American readers enjoyed Presidents’ Day yesterday, a holiday I definitely forgot about. I’m Patrick, and Madeline Coleman will be along shortly. Let’s dive in.

Catch Up: More testing!

The second and final preseason test of 2026 is underway in Bahrain this week, running tomorrow through Friday before the whole circus packs up and heads to Melbourne for the season opener on March 8.

Unlike last week, every minute of track action is being broadcast live. (And we’ll be live blogging it, too.)

It’s been the shortest offseason in recent F1 memory, so there’s every chance this is the first time you’ll see the cars in action. And some of you might be completely up to speed. It’s a big tent! Let’s gather around. Here’s what you can keep an eye on:

For the “Tuning In For The First Time Since December” crowd:

Get used to hearing about energy management. The 2026 rules changed engine and power deployment, the biggest factor separating the fast teams. Watch for smooth or choppy handling, and listen to the driver’s feedback; don’t just look at lap times.
The new team on the grid looks fine. Cadillac/GM arrived, didn’t embarrass themselves and, while slow, they’re operational. That’s better than expected!
There’s a clear top four. Mercedes and Red Bull at the top, with Ferrari just behind and McLaren somewhere in that mix. That’s the broad picture; specifics are still up for debate, as Luke noted last week.

For the “Been Paying Attention Since Launch Season” crowd:

The Mercedes compression ratio controversy is coming to a head. An F1 Commission meeting in Bahrain tomorrow will address the ongoing drama around the Mercedes engine. I don’t think this story is going away tomorrow, though.
Another political fight is brewing. The 2026 cars are so different that even basic starts are a safety concern, as new engines take longer to spool, which could disrupt race starts. McLaren boss Andrea Stella called it “imperative” to fix this before Australia. We’ll see if other teams agree.
Ferrari is worth watching. It ran a basic spec last week and will bring an upgrade this week. This should clarify its position in the top four. Or not! It’s testing. It’s Feb. 17.

Get properly up to speed this week with Luke’s story.

Test dates/times to know:

Wednesday, Feb. 18: 7 a.m.–4 p.m. UK / 2 a.m.–11 a.m. ET
Thursday, Feb. 19: 7 a.m.–4 p.m. UK / 2 a.m.–11 a.m. ET
Friday, Feb. 20: 7 a.m.–4 p.m. UK / 2 a.m.–11 a.m. ET

Circuit Change? Barcelona keeps F1 slot … sort of

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya isn’t going anywhere. Neither is Spa. But they’re also not going to be on the F1 calendar every year anymore, which, depending on your perspective, is either a lifeline or a travesty.

F1 confirmed this week that Barcelona will rotate with Spa moving forward, sharing a single calendar slot between them in alternating seasons. It’s the kind of deal that keeps a venue technically alive while making clear where it sits in the pecking order. Alex Kalinauckas has all the details here.

What makes the announcement worth paying attention to isn’t really the rotation itself — it’s what it represents. The Dutch GP at Zandvoort didn’t get a deal like this. It’s just gone after 2026. Barcelona got one because it spent money: new paddock, new hospitality, infrastructure upgrades that gave FOM something to point to. The message from F1’s commercial side has been consistent for a few years now, and this is what following through on it actually looks like.

Spa is the one that hurts. It’s one of the six original F1 tracks. It’s iconic — Eau Rouge, the weather, the Ardennes forest, the history. But the race has been losing millions each year, and rising F1 hosting fees have made the long-term math nearly impossible.

The Spanish GP name, for what it’s worth, now belongs to Madrid. Barcelona races on as the Barcelona-Catalunya GP, a subtle demotion wrapped in a rebranding news release.

Whether rotation deals are a sustainable model or merely a way of letting venues down gently remains an open question. As Alex noted, the German GP rotated between Hockenheim and the Nürburgring for several years before both quietly disappeared. Worth keeping in mind.

Now let’s throw to Madeline in the paddock.

Inside the Paddock with Madeline Coleman: A new F1 LEGO

The latest step in LEGO going all in on its multiyear F1 partnership? A new F1 LEGO set has hit the market: the LEGO Technic McLaren MCL39 F1 Car, the 2025 world championship challenger.

LEGO Group

The partnership officially launched in 2025. During last year’s Miami Grand Prix, LEGO built life-size cars for the drivers parade, a moment which went viral. The latest product is available for preorder for $229.99, but immediate purchases, whether those be in-store or online, start March 1.

With 1,675 pieces, the age listed for the set is 18+, and it’s a 1:8 scale model. Fans can dive into the engineering elements with this set, with the Drag Reduction System able to be activated (a new feature for LEGO!) and see the push-rod and pull-rod suspension. The covers can also be removed to see the V6 engine. The final measurements of the LEGO Technic set are five inches high, 24 inches long and 9.5 inches wide.

Andreas Jensen, the model designer of LEGO Technic, said in the news release: “Bringing this podium-topping car to life in brick form was about translating real race‑winning engineering into a build that fans can actually feel. Together with the steering, suspension and detailed livery, it’s a hands‑on way to explore how performance comes to life in the MCL39.”

This is the fifth F1 Technic set to hit the market, joining the likes of the Ferrari SF-24, Red Bull’s RB20 and Mercedes’ W14 E Performance. The other in the mix is McLaren’s 2022 challenger, though LEGO’s website shows it is retiring soon.

Answers: Poll results

Last week, we asked you to name the “F1: The Movie” sequel. (We reported on the possibility of a sequel here last week.) And 238 of you responded (one of you just wrote “Hi.”). Anyway, I spent way too much time this weekend crunching numbers on this. Here were the results.

You’re all split into three tribes. Pragmatists (27 percent) just wanted the movie to be called “F2,” with variants like “F2: The Movie” and “F2: The Sequel” rounding it out. Alex has been banging this drum for months, so congrats to him.

The comedians (50 percent) used the prompt to roast the film or remix other franchises — “Fast & Furious” jokes alone accounted for 6 percent. I am Not 2 Furious about this. The haters (6 percent) didn’t want a sequel at all: see “F2: Hard Pass.”

“Electric Boogaloo” never gets old. Eight entries made the same joke, making it the second-most repeated phrase after plain “F2.” The bonus: it doubles as an F1 joke, since Max literally said last week the new cars remind him of “Formula E on steroids.” Layers!

Some of you are F1 sickos. About a dozen entries were essentially fan credential tests. “GP2 Engine” requires knowing 2015 Japanese GP radio lore. “F-1nner: The Pirelli Implosion” references 2021 Baku. “F1: The Movie 2: The Inchident” requires knowing the meme. Mad respect.

Podium: Honorable mention goes to “Don’t Make Me Stop This Car” (the very first response).

P1: “F1: Box Box Box Office”

P2: “F1 — Nothing Stronger Than Family”

P3: “F1: The Movie 2: The Inchident”

Dear Jerry Bruckheimer: “F1: Box Box Box Office” is right there. It’s free. (Actually, it isn’t — please pay a royalty to Prime Tire. Thank you.)

Outside the points

🏎️ Luke has an excellent breakdown of the new aero rules in F1 that will help change the racing this year.

🧢 I enjoyed this roundup of the toughest coaching jobs in sports. One of F1’s teams made the cut. I bet you can guess which one.

🏁 Finally, did you catch the Daytona 500? What a finish. And I thought Jeff Gluck summed up the irony of Michael Jordan’s team winning perfectly.

Don’t forget, we have live coverage of F1 testing tomorrow! See you there!

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