F1 2026 Launch Season Schedule Revealed
The 2026 Formula 1 season, featuring radically new cars and engines, will kick off with a series of team launches starting in mid-January. Key reveals include Red Bull and Racing Bulls on January 15, Alpine and Haas on January 23, and the debut of Adrian Newey's Aston Martin on February 9.
Formula 1's 2026 season, marking the start of a new technical era with completely overhauled cars and power units, will begin with a highly anticipated launch schedule starting in mid-January. Teams are unveiling their new looks and cars earlier than in recent years to ramp up for the 24-race campaign, which begins in March, with pre-season testing starting in late January.
Why it matters:
The 2026 regulations represent the most significant technical overhaul in years, promising to dramatically reshape the competitive landscape. A successful launch and a strong initial car design are crucial, as the new rules are locked in for five seasons, meaning a head start could define a team's fortunes for much of the late 2020s.
The Details:
- Red Bull & Racing Bulls (January 15): The two Red Bull-owned teams will kick off the season by revealing their 2026 liveries at a Ford event in Detroit, marking the start of their new engine partnership.
- Alpine (January 23): The French team, which has shifted focus early to 2026 after a difficult 2025, will unveil its new look just days before the first private test in Barcelona. A key change is their switch from Renault to customer Mercedes power units.
- Haas (January 23): The American team will also reveal the livery for its VF-26 car online on the same Friday.
- Cadillac (February 8): F1's newest American team will make a blockbuster debut by unveiling its maiden car livery in a TV advertisement during the Super Bowl.
- Aston Martin (February 9): One of the most awaited reveals will be the AMR26, the first Aston Martin car designed by the legendary Adrian Newey, shown just before public testing begins in Bahrain.
- Dates TBC: Launch dates for McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, Williams, and the new Audi team are still to be confirmed.
What's next:
Following the launches, teams will head to Barcelona for initial behind-closed-doors testing at the end of January, before the first public pre-season test in Bahrain ahead of the season opener. The 2026 cars will feature moving wings instead of DRS and are designed to race closer together, aiming to produce more overtaking. With the regulations set for a five-year cycle, establishing an early competitive advantage will be more critical than ever.