Formula 1 is on the brink of a transformative new chapter in 2026, with sweeping regulation changes to car aerodynamics and power units guaranteeing that this winter’s launch season is among the most highly anticipated in recent memory.
With pre-season testing scheduled to begin at the end of January — starting with private, behind-closed-doors running in Barcelona — teams are expected to unveil their 2026 liveries and cars earlier than usual as preparations intensify for a 24-race season that gets underway in March.
Below is the final line-up of the 2026 car and livery reveal dates, starting with Red Bull and Racing Bulls, culminating in Aston Martin and McLaren, two days before the public test.
Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls
15 January 2026
Both Red Bull-owned teams will launch their new-era looks together as they begin life with new power unit regulations.
Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls will unveil their respective 2026 liveries on Thursday, 15 January 2026, at the Detroit headquarters of engine partner Ford. The reveals will take place as part of Ford’s wider season launch event for its racing programmes, hosted at the redeveloped Michigan Central Station.
This marks a symbolic moment as the Red Bull teams enter a new era of engine partnerships.
Audi
20 January 2026
Audi will launch their new entry on 20th January 2026, alongside a new F1 team logo as they become the Audi Revolut F1 team. Revolut is the team’s primary sponsor.
On 13 November 2025, Audi unveiled the colour scheme for its maiden Formula 1 car, which will debut in 2026, during a high-tempo showcase at its Munich hub. The palette centres on titanium, carbon black, and the unmistakable Audi red, while the iconic four rings take pride of place in the design. The ambition was clear: to field “the most striking car on the race track” when the lights go out in 2026.
Honda
20 January 2026
In a departure from the traditional launch schedule, Aston Martin’s new power-unit partner Honda will stage a standalone event in Tokyo on Tuesday, 20th January, to formally mark its full return to Formula 1.
The Japanese manufacturer’s unveiling comes ahead of a new season in which F1’s power units will be significantly revised, adopting a 50:50 balance between electrical output and internal combustion engine power.
Mercedes
22 January 2026
Could this be the car-and-engine package to beat in the opening season of Formula 1’s new era?
Highly rated Mercedes will unveil the first renders of their latest contender, the W17, on Thursday, January 22, as they look to return to title contention following a frustrating ground-effect era.
The team will then complete a behind-closed-doors test in Barcelona from January 26–30, before hosting an online season launch on Monday, February 2, featuring George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, team principal Toto Wolff, and the W17 itself.
Alpine
23 January 2026
Alpine have teased their own launch plans with the message “we’ve got something to show you”, confirming an event on Friday 23 January 2026 — just three days before the opening private test of pre-season in Barcelona.
The team are targeting a significant reset under F1’s new rules, having endured a difficult 2025 season that saw them finish last in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship. Alpine shifted focus early to 2026 and will also debut a major technical change, replacing their long-standing Renault works engines with customer Mercedes power units, widely expected to be among the strongest under the new regulations.
Haas
23 January 2026
Haas will also use the Friday before the first test to launch their 2026 look.
Like Alpine, the American team will unveil the livery for their VF-26 car online on 23 January 2026, giving fans their first glimpse of how Haas will present itself heading into the new regulatory cycle.
Ferrari
23 January 2026
23 January is set to be a busy day of launches, with Ferrari the third team to announce that day. Ferrari chief Vasseur has announced the yet-to-be-named 2026 challenger at Fiorano, with drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton logging shakedown mileage in the new car.
Vasseur has set “aggressive” targets to develop the 2026 car as late as possible, pushing back the final build until the eve of the Fiorano filming session.
“This will be aggressive for sure, because we will finish the assembly of the car the day before the launch,” Vasseur said at Ferrari’s traditional end-of-year press conference in Maranello.
“The launch will be the 23rd of January in Maranello. It means that we’ll finish the car on the 22nd. And this is aggressive, but everybody will do the same.”
F1 2026 pre-season testing
Williams
3 February 2026
Could this be the fresh start Williams needs to capitalise on Formula 1’s biggest reset in a generation?
Williams will unveil the racing livery of their 2026 challenger, the FW48, on Tuesday, February 3, revealing a bold new look as Formula 1 enters its all-new regulations era.
The team will begin the year with a one-off, fan-designed livery for pre-season testing in Barcelona later this month, after almost 55,000 supporters from 162 countries voted on the special design — a key part of Williams’ push to bring fans closer to the team than ever before.
From February 3 onwards, the FW48 will carry its striking season-long colours as Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz lead Williams’ charge to continue their climb back towards the front of the grid.
With 2026 ushering in shorter, lighter cars and the biggest rule change in a generation, Williams view the reset as a major opportunity. Momentum is firmly on their side after their strongest season in nine years in 2025, finishing fifth in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship with 137 points, podiums in Baku and Qatar, and a maiden Sprint podium in Austin.
Cadillac
8 February 2026
Formula 1’s newest American entry will make its first major statement during the country’s biggest sporting spectacle.
Cadillac will unveil its maiden F1 livery in a television advertisement during the Super Bowl, which this year takes place at Levi’s Stadium in California on Sunday, 8 February 2026. The reveal will mark the first official look at the team’s Formula 1 identity.
Aston Martin
9 February 2026
One of the most anticipated moments of the entire launch season will arrive on Monday, 9 February 2026, when Aston Martin reveals their 2026 challenger.
The AMR26 will be the first Aston Martin designed by legendary engineer Adrian Newey and will run Honda power. The car will be unveiled two days before the first public pre-season test begins in Bahrain.
McLaren
9 February 2026
Alongside Aston Martin, McLaren will be the final team to showcase their 2026 contender. The defending back-to-back world champions (2024-2025) will unveil their car livery on Monday, 9th February, just two days before the first (public-facing) pre-season test begins in Bahrain.
McLaren’s latest world champion, Lando Norris, will be front at an online event from the Bahrain International Circuit alongside team-mate Oscar Piastri, entering his fourth year in F1, and team chiefs Zak Brown and Andrea Stella.
What are the new regulations for F1 in 2026?
The 2026 season will introduce a full reset of Formula 1’s technical framework, with extensive changes to power units, chassis design and aerodynamic rules. The resulting cars are expected to look and behave very differently to those currently on the grid.
Major regulation changes have historically reshaped the competitive order in F1, with the 2026 overhaul seen as the biggest changes ever seen in F1 history.
Teams have been working on their 2026 projects for several years already, with the regulations set to remain in place for five seasons. Getting the concept right early could define success for years — much as Mercedes’ dominance under the 2014 regulations lasted until 2016 before Ferrari and Red Bull closed the gap.
Among the headline changes, DRS will be removed and replaced by active, moving aerodynamic elements. The new cars are expected to follow more closely, promoting more wheel-to-wheel racing and increased overtaking throughout the field.
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