McLaren won't be one of the teams hitting the track first when F1 preseason testing starts in 2026. But it has planned for a late test debut

Formula One champions McLaren plan to wait until the second or third day of pre-season testing in Barcelona next week before running their car in order to allow maximum development time.

The R26 represents VW AG's first-ever full works operation in F1—and the first step in a plan to win a championship by 2030.