The first Formula 1 car launches are set to take place this week, offering fans their first look at the all-new 2026 machines.
It’s only been a month since Lando Norris pipped Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri to the title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but drivers and engineers are already gearing up for the new season.
Ahead of pre-season testing in February, all 11 teams will unveil their new cars and liveries, and there’s much to look out with a raft of new regulations brought in for 2026.
Here’s everything you need to know about when every F1 team is revealing their 2026 car, how to watch the launches and when pre-season testing and the first race of the year are taking place:
Red Bull
Date: January 15
Red Bull will be the first team to unveil their 2026 car. The launch show is taking place in Detroit, home of Ford whose engine partnership with the Red Bull teams begins this year.
After narrowly missing out on the title, Verstappen will be hoping the RB22 can win him a fifth world championship. He’ll have a new teammate for this season, as Isack Hadjar replaces Yuki Tsunoda.
Racing Bulls
Date: January 15
As Red Bull’s sister team, Racing Bulls will also reveal their yet to be named machine at the Detroit show.
Liam Lawson will be joined by British rookie Arvid Lindblad. The 18-year-old takes over from the promoted Hadjar.
Haas
Date: January 19
Haas will reveal their VF-26 – driven by Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman – online. Is this the year they get that elusive first podium?
Audi
Date: January 20
There’s a new name on the grid as Audi have officially taken over Sauber. Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto will show off the R26 car at a ‘global launch’ event in Berlin.
Mercedes
Date: January 22 and February 2
Unusually, Mercedes are going to have two separate launches. On January 22, they will release the first renders of the F1 W17 before a proper launch show on February 2.
Early rumours suggest the Silver Arrows will be the team to beat this season – music to the ears of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
Ferrari
Date: January 23
After a wretched 2025, the SF-26 may be the last F1 car driver by Sir Lewis Hamilton as he seeks a record eighth world championship.
It is possible that he and Charles Leclerc will give their new car a spin if the launch takes place at Ferrari’s own Fiorano test track as expected.
Alpine
Date: January 23
There’s a lot of pressure on Alpine after they effectively binned off last season to put all their resources into the A526 machine, which will be unveiled in Barcelona.
After finishing last in 2025, Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto will be praying the gamble pays off.
Williams
Date: February 3
Williams will run a one-off, fan-designed livery for the first pre-season test before their 2026 colours are revealed on the FW46. A ‘new look’ for Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz’s team has been promised.
Cadillac
Date: February 8
For the first time in a decade, F1 will have 11 teams as Cadillac join the grid, with former Mercedes and Red Bull stars Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez behind the wheel.
And they’ll launch their first ever car in the most American way possible – in a TV advert during the 2026 Super Bowl.
Aston Martin
Date: February 9
Expectations are high for the AMR26, the first Aston Martin car designed by the legendary Adrian Newey, the mastermind by Red Bull’s success over the past two decades.
This could be a make-or-break year for two-time champion Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
McLaren
Date: 3pm, February 9
The reigning champions will be one of the final teams to launch. Norris and Piastri will unveil the MCL40A in Bahrain, just a few days before the first public pre-season test.
While details have yet to be confirmed, fans should be able to watch most of the car launches on each team’s official websites and YouTube channels, as well as on Sky Sports in the UK.
When is F1 pre-season testing?
Given the huge shake up of the regulations, pre-season testing has been expanded for 2026.
A behind closed doors test is set to take place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – the former home of the Spanish Grand Prix – from January 26-30.
A second test will take place at the Bahrain International Circuit from February 11-13, before a third and final test at the desert track from February 18-20. Fans can watch both of these on Sky Sports.
When does the 2026 F1 season start?
It’s lights out and away we go on March 6-8 with the Australian Grand Prix.
In the UK, you can watch the race on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event – but you’ll need to set you alarm as it starts at 4am.
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