When will F1 teams launch their 2026 cars? All the dates, details and timings

Everything you need to know about each F1 team’s car launch ahead of the 2026 season with new technical regulations.

Credit: Formula One

The 2026 Formula One season is fast-approaching, and while the on-track competition begins only in March, the pre-season flurry of activity has already picked up. With a complete reset in technical regulations seeing the dawn of a new era in F1, teams have been hard at work to fine-tune their challengers for this year.

Although the pre-season launches will only reveal most teams’ standard livery for the season, being the year of a historic regulatory overhaul and with the highly anticipated debuts of teams like Audi and Cadillac, these launch events are not to be missed.

This year, teams return to the traditional practice of launching cars on separate dates with bespoke events, unlike last year when F1 celebrated its 75th year with a single, blockbuster celebration that saw all teams reveal their liveries together.

Here are all the important details for when and where each of the 11 teams will unveil their 2026 cars, and the pre-season test dates in between.

Team	Date and Time	Location
Red Bull and Racing Bulls	15th January, 03:00 GMT	Detroit, USA + Online Livestream
Haas	19th January	Online
Audi	20th January	Berlin, Germany
Mercedes	22nd January (Livery) and 2nd February (Car)	Online
Ferrari	23rd January	Fiorano, Italy
Alpine	23rd January	Barcelona, Spain
26th - 30th January: Private Pre-Season Test in Barcelona
Williams	3rd February	TBC
Cadillac	8th February, 23:30 GMT onwards	Super Bowl, California
McLaren	9th February, 15:00 GMT	Online Livestream from Bahrain International Circuit
Aston Martin	9th February	TBC
11th - 13th February: Second Pre-Season Test in Bahrain
18th - 20th February: Final Pre-Season Test in Bahrain

Red Bull and Racing Bulls – 15th January (Detroit, USA + Online Livestream)

The sister outfits will be the first on the grid to launch their 2026 liveries in a joint event that will also commemorate the Red Bull Ford Powertrains programme making its debut in 2026.

The launch of both cars will take place at the birthplace of Ford, in Detroit, Michigan, and for global fans, will be livestreamed on Red Bull Racing’s official website.

According to Red Bull, the event will “pay homage to Ford’s heritage” through its launch in the American city, and can be viewed by fans beginning from 03:00 GMT on 15th January.

Red Bull and Racing Bulls will unveil their liveries together to officially mark the start of their Ford partnership | Credit: Formula One

Haas – 19th January (Online)

After initially announcing their launch date as 23rd January, Haas has moved up their day, presumably to avoid the over-congestion of launches on their originally planned date.

The Ferrari-powered VF-26 will be the first car launch of the year, as Red Bull and Racing Bulls will be livery-only, and will be revealed online through digital renders which fans can catch on the team’s social media platforms.

This launch will also mark the official inauguration of the outfit’s partnership with Toyota Gazoo Racing, after a technical partnership that first began with Toyota in October 2024.

Haas had to move up their date and will launch their car online | Credit: Formula One

Audi – 20th January (Berlin, Germany)

One of the most eagerly anticipated launches is that of Audi, making its F1 debut this year and taking over from the former Sauber operation.

The German outfit will launch their livery in Berlin with an exclusive event that promises to showcase the team’s “clarity, technical intelligence, and emotion” with an immersive experience during the occasion. 

This exclusive event and livery reveal will be followed by a public opening the following day, inviting fans to be one of the first people to view the livery up-close ahead of their first official on-track outing in Barcelona for pre-season testing.

Audi will provide a unique interactive experience for fans during their launch | Credit: Formula One

Honda Power Unit – 20th January (Tokyo, Japan)

For the first time, Honda is set to host their own event to commemorate their full return to the sport partnering with Aston Martin ahead of the new regulatory era.

Taking place in the Japanese capital, Honda’s launch will also be livestreamed on YouTube with eminent figures like Lawrence Stroll (Executive Chairman of Aston Martin) Stefano Domenicali (President and CEO of F1) and Toshihiro Mibe (President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.) set to be present for the occasion.

Mercedes – 22nd January and 2nd February (Online)

The team rumoured to have the early edge in performance will unveil their 2026 livery through digital renders first, ahead of a full car launch on 2nd February, just after the private pre-season test in Barcelona.

A first look at the W17 will be released across the team’s online platforms in January, before the dedicated car launch with appearances from CEO and Team Principal Toto Wolff and the two drivers, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

The February car launch will be streamed via Mercedes’ social media platforms, where fans can catch exclusive looks at the team’s 2026 machinery.

Mercedes have scheduled their launch on two separate dates, one for the livery and one for the car | Credit: Formula One

Ferrari – 23rd January (Fiorano, Italy)

Although clear details haven’t been divulged apart from the launch date, the Italian outfit can be expected to unveil their 2026 challenger at the Fiorano Circuit, continuing their tradition of launches from previous years.

Ferrari will be hoping for a huge bounce-back with this car, after enduring a harsh win-less 2025 season with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. 

Though little else is known about the team’s launch plans, Team Principal Fred Vasseur made clear: “We will finish the assembly of the car the day before the launch, the launch will be the 23rd January, which means we will finish the car on the 22nd, and this is to be aggressive.”

Ferrari can be expected to launch their car in Fiorano, at their private circuit | Credit: Formula One

Alpine – 23rd January (Barcelona, Spain)

Also launching on 23rd January is Alpine, with an event in Barcelona just ahead of the private pre-season test. Drivers Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are set to be in attendance for this livery reveal.

Alpine’s 2026 season comes with a fresh start, as they switch to the Mercedes power unit after Renault’s exit from the sport. 

Alpine begins a fresh partnership with Mercedes for their power units in 2026 | Credit: Formula One

Williams – 3rd February

A few days after the private test in Barcelona, Williams will reveal their 2026 livery for the FW48. The team saw a massive leap in performance last year under Team Principal James Voweles’ leadership, and in the hands of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz as consistent drivers.

Williams’ livery launch is set to take place just after Mercedes reveal their 2026 car, and with a continuing power unit partnership with the Silver Arrows, Williams will be eager to make more strides in 2026.

The livery itself can be expected to have a “striking new look” according to the team, keeping in line with their recent re-brand. Though a location for the launch hasn’t been confirmed yet, fans can keep an eye on the team’s social media handles for further updates.

Williams will run a special one-off livery during all three tests, picked out by fans | Credit: Formula One

Cadillac – 8th February (Super Bowl, California)

The newest American team on the grid will officially launch their 2026 season in the most American way possible: at the 2026 Super Bowl.

The annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL) is known for its iconic high-profile adverts, one of which will be featuring Cadillac’s 2026 livery launch. 

America’s biggest sporting event will kick off at 23:30 GMT, with Cadillac’s livery reveal to be expected during the in-game breaks.

Cadillac will run this special edition livery during the private Barcelona test | Credit: Formula One

McLaren – 9th February (Bahrain International Circuit + Online Livestream)

The reigning World Constructors’ Champions will make their livery reveal at the Bahrain International Circuit, just two days before the first public pre-season test at the same venue.

McLaren were the last of 11 teams to confirm their launch plans. The broadcast from Bahrain is set to feature key team members in attendance, including newly crowned champion Lando Norris, teammate Oscar Piastri, Team Principal Andrea Stella and CEO Zak Brown.

The livestream can be viewed on McLaren’s online platforms, starting at 15:00 GMT.

McLaren was the final team to confirm their launch plans | Credit: Formula One

Aston Martin – 9th February 

The Silverstone outfit is carrying plenty of expectations into the 2026 season, with Adrian Newey taking the helm as Team Principal and a brand new partnership with Honda firing up this year.

Launching on the same date as McLaren, Aston Martin will reveal their complete 2026 car ahead of the pre-season testing in Bahrain.

The AMR26 will be the first Honda-powered Aston Martin machinery, and while other details of its launch remain undisclosed, fans can check out the team’s social media platforms for further updates.

Aston Martin rides into 2026 on lofty hopes, with a leadership change and new engine suppliers for the fresh regulatory era | Credit: Formula One

After the launches conclude on 9th February, the teams will take to the Bahrain International Circuit for the first public test sessions, the first of which will be conducted from 11th to 13th February.

A third and final testing session from 18th to 20th February will happen at the same venue, during which teams have one final opportunity to refine their cars before the 2026 season officially gets underway in Melbourne, Australia, on 6th March.