Revealing the 2026 F1 Launch Schedule: Mercedes Unveils New Car Debut

The 2026 Formula 1 season is on the horizon, and with it comes a new era of significantly modified cars and engines. As a result, this year's 'launch season' is highly anticipated, with teams set to showcase their 2026 designs several weeks earlier than in previous years. Pre-season testing is scheduled to commence at the end of January, starting with private testing in Barcelona. The teams will then unveil their 2026 cars and liveries in the weeks leading up to the 24-race campaign, which begins in March. Below, you'll find the latest information on livery and full-car reveals as they are confirmed. The two Red Bull teams will kick off their new engine era by unveiling their respective 2026 car liveries at the Detroit headquarters of their partner, Ford, on Thursday, January 15. Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri's colors will be showcased as part of Ford's season launch event for their racing entities at the repurposed Michigan Central Station. Sauber's transition to Audi will become official with a 'global launch' event in Berlin on Tuesday, January 20, where the team's 2026 livery will be revealed. In a departure from the usual launch schedule, Aston Martin's new partner, Honda, will hold their own event in Tokyo to mark their full return to F1 on Tuesday, January 20. The Japanese manufacturer's launch comes ahead of a new season that will see significant changes to the power units, featuring a 50-50 split between electrical and internal combustion engine power. Mercedes, a top contender, will unveil the first renders of their latest challenger, the W17, on Thursday, January 22. Following the private Barcelona test on January 26-30, the team will host a season launch event online, featuring drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, team boss Toto Wolff, and the W17 itself on Monday, February 2. After a disappointing 2025 season, Ferrari will officially launch their 2026 car on Friday, January 23, just three days before the first pre-season test in Barcelona. Alpine has promised to 'show something' at their event on Friday, January 23, as they aim for a significant step forward in the new era. Haas will also unveil their 2026 car livery online on Friday, January 23. The new American F1 team will reveal their maiden car livery in a TV advert during the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 8. The highly anticipated unveiling of the first Aston Martin car designed by Adrian Newey will take place on Monday, February 9, just two days before the first public pre-season test in Bahrain. The 2026 season will see a major overhaul of the technical regulations, resulting in significant changes to the power unit, chassis, and aerodynamic rules. These changes are expected to shake up the pecking order, with the new regulations being described as the 'biggest changes ever' in the sport by Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle. The teams have been working on their 2026 cars for some time, as the regulations are set to be in place for five seasons. Being competitive from the start will be crucial in setting teams up for success in the years to come. The new regulations will also introduce 'Overtake Mode,' where drivers can use more power on designated straights if they are within one second of another car, and 'Active Aero,' which will allow the front and rear wings to move before and after corners. This is expected to result in closer racing and more overtaking opportunities. All 24 race weekends of the 2026 Formula 1 season will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, available to stream with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime.