Unveiling of 2026 F1 Cars and Liveries: Teams' Launch Dates Revealed

The 2026 Formula 1 season is set to usher in a new era of significantly revamped cars and engines, making the upcoming 'launch season' one of the most highly anticipated in recent years. With pre-season testing scheduled to commence at the end of January, teams will start showcasing their 2026 cars and liveries several weeks earlier than in previous years as they gear up for the 24-race campaign starting in March. All 11 teams, including the newly introduced Cadillac outfit, have now confirmed their respective launch dates. Red Bull Racing and its sister team will kick off the new engine era by unveiling their 2026 car liveries at Ford's Detroit headquarters on January 15. Haas has rescheduled its launch to January 19 to avoid a clash with Ferrari and Alpine. Sauber's transition to Audi will be officially announced at a 'global launch' event in Berlin on January 20, where the team's 2026 livery will be revealed. Aston Martin's new partner, Honda, will hold its own launch event in Tokyo on January 20 to mark its full return to F1. Mercedes will showcase the first renders of its latest challenger, the W17, on January 22. After a behind-closed-doors test in Barcelona, the team will host a season launch event online on February 2. Ferrari will officially launch its 2026 car on January 23, three days before the first pre-season test in Barcelona. Alpine has promised to reveal something special at its launch event on January 23. Williams will unveil a new look for the team when it launches the livery for its 2026 car, the FW48, on February 3. The team's car will have run in a special one-off fan-designed livery before then for the first test in Barcelona. The new American F1 team, Cadillac, will show off its Formula 1 look for the first time during the Super Bowl on February 8. Defending world champions McLaren will reveal their 2026 car livery on February 9, two days before the first public test of pre-season begins in Bahrain. The eagerly anticipated unveiling of the first Aston Martin car designed by Adrian Newey will take place on February 9, the same day as McLaren. The 2026 season will see a complete overhaul of the technical regulations, resulting in significant changes to the power unit, chassis, and aerodynamic rules. The new regulations are expected to cause a shake-up in the pecking order, with the teams having worked on their 2026 cars for an extended period. The introduction of 'Overtake Mode' and 'Active Aero' is expected to increase overtaking opportunities, allowing drivers to follow each other more closely.