F1 Teams Unveil 2026 Chassis Names Ahead of New Era
As F1's 2026 season approaches, teams are revealing the names of their new cars. Mercedes has the W17, while Ferrari and Cadillac are yet to announce their challengers' official titles.
With the 2026 F1 season on the horizon and radical new regulations set to debut, attention is turning to launch season and the official names of this year's challengers. While several teams like Mercedes (W17) and Williams (FW48) have confirmed their designations, others like Ferrari and new entrant Cadillac have yet to announce their monikers for the upcoming campaign.
Why it matters:
The official naming of a car marks the transition from off-season development to on-track competition. These designations are more than just labels; they represent a team's identity, heritage, and aspirations for a season defined by massive technical changes. For fans, it's the first tangible piece of the new racing puzzle and the official start of the narrative for the year ahead.
The details:
As launch season approaches, most teams have locked in the names for their 2026 machines, while a few remain pending final confirmation.
- Mercedes: W17 (confirmed)
- Williams: FW48 (confirmed)
- Aston Martin: AMR26 (confirmed)
- Alpine: A526 (confirmed)
- Haas: VF-26 (confirmed)
- Audi: RS-26 (confirmed)
- McLaren: MCL40A (to be confirmed)
- Red Bull Racing: RB22 (to be confirmed)
- Racing Bulls: VCARB 03 (to be confirmed)
- Ferrari: TBA
- Cadillac: TBA
The on-track action will begin with a shakedown in Barcelona before two pre-season tests in Bahrain. The 2026 calendar will feature 24 Grands Prix and six sprints, with Imola dropped and Madrid joining the schedule for a 30-event season.
What's next:
The immediate focus is on the remaining launch dates, with reigning champions McLaren yet to confirm their plans. Following the unveilings, all eyes will be on Barcelona for the first official shakedown, where these newly-named machines will turn a wheel in anger for the first time. The Bahrain tests will then provide the first real glimpse of the competitive order before the season opener in Australia.