Formula 1 teams are gearing up for an eagerly anticipated 2026 launch season as the sport prepares for a major overhaul of cars and engines. Pre-season testing begins in late January behind closed doors in Barcelona, with several teams revealing their 2026 liveries and cars in the weeks leading up to the first test.
Key Launch Dates:
- January 15 – Red Bull and Racing Bulls: Both teams will unveil their liveries at Ford’s Detroit headquarters during the official season launch event.
- January 20 – Audi: Sauber’s transition to Audi will be celebrated with a “global launch” event in Berlin, giving fans the chance to view the new car.
- January 20 – Honda Engines: Aston Martin’s partner Honda will reveal its new power unit in Tokyo, ahead of the electrical and internal combustion engine overhaul.
- January 23 – Ferrari: The Scuderia will launch its 2026 car three days before Barcelona pre-season testing, aiming for a comeback after a winless 2025 season.
- January 23 – Alpine: The team will showcase its new car, switching to Mercedes power units in pursuit of improved performance.
- January 23 – Haas: The VF-26 livery will be unveiled online.
- February 8 – Cadillac: The new American team will reveal its car during the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium in California.
- February 9 – Aston Martin: Adrian Newey’s first Aston Martin F1 car, powered by Honda, will be unveiled two days before pre-season testing in Bahrain.
Dates for McLaren, Mercedes, and Williams are yet to be confirmed.
The 2026 season introduces a complete technical overhaul, including changes to chassis, aerodynamics, and power units. With moving wings replacing DRS and more overtaking expected, the cars will be radically different, marking what Martin Brundle calls the “biggest changes ever” in Formula 1.
Pre-season testing schedules:
- Barcelona: January 26–30
- Bahrain: February 11–13 & 18–20
