What is an F1 car shakedown and how are teams restricted?

F1 teams often use the period before the opening pre-season test of the year to conduct a private outing with their new car.

2026 is no different, and earlier this week, Audi became the first team to hit the track with its new challenger, built under a fresh set of technical regulations.

These shakedowns represent a vital gateway between the design office and competitive racing, offering teams their first opportunity to verify that months of development work translate into functional performance on track.

Under current FIA regulations, teams are allocated 200 kilometres of running during these initial testing sessions, often conducted in the days preceding official pre-season testing. 

This limited mileage serves a specific purpose: ensuring basic systems functionality rather than performance development.

The restrictions are deliberately stringent to maintain competitive balance. Teams must use specially designated Pirelli tyres, which feature significantly less grip than race compounds and often include wet-weather grooves. 

This prevents teams from gathering meaningful performance data while still allowing essential systems checks.

The 200km limit forces teams to prioritise carefully. Engineers focus on fundamental operations: steering responsiveness, brake feel, power unit integration, and basic aerodynamic balance. 

Drivers use this precious track time to familiarise themselves with cockpit functions and initial handling characteristics.

For teams unveiling significant updates or completely new designs, shakedowns can reveal critical issues that computer simulations might miss. 

Basic functionality checks, from ensuring wheels stay attached to verifying that complex hybrid systems operate correctly, form the foundation of what follows.

While shakedowns cannot replace comprehensive testing, they serve as an essential bridge between theoretical performance and track reality.

Teams can supplement their allocation with two annual demonstration events, though these carry even tighter restrictions. 

Current-generation cars are limited to 15km for demonstrations, while previous-generation machinery can run up to 50km, provided all components have been previously tested.