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When are F1 teams launching in 2026?
As Ford prepares to launch its 2026 racing season in Detroit – including reveals of the liveries for the Red Bull and Racing Bulls cars – here are all of the dates that are confirmed this pre-season in Formula 1.
A late-January shakedown at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya allows teams a first chance to run their 2026 cars for an extensive period of time as they get to grips with new power unit and aerodynamic regulations. That test means earlier launches than in the past, and a slightly confusing mix of livery reveals as well.
Teams that launch their car and livery prior to the shakedown – that runs from Jan. 26-30 – can use those designs during the five-day test, but if a launch is set to be held in February then they will be running one-off color schemes in Barcelona.
Williams and Cadillac have already unveiled their shakedown designs (but not the cars) ahead of their launches on Feb. 3 and 8 respectively, with more expected in the coming weeks. Mercedes, for example, will publish renders of its 2026 car before the shakedown, but carry out a full launch at the start of February.
Teams can also run their new cars during private filming days, where they are limited in mileage and have to use demonstration Pirelli tires. Audi has already done so in Barcelona, becoming the first team to hit the track with a 2026 car.
While some teams explicitly describe the launches as a livery reveal or a season launch, the new regulations mean that in reality all cars will change dramatically from the first specification that runs in Barcelona to the version that hits the track in Melbourne for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 8.
Key dates for launches and tests:
January 15 – Red Bull and Racing Bulls liveries at Ford season launch in Detroit
January 19 – Haas launch, online
January 20 – Honda power unit launch, Tokyo
January 20 – Audi livery launch, Berlin
January 22 – Mercedes car renders, online
January 23 – Ferrari launch, Maranello; Alpine launch, Barcelona
January 26-30 – Full grid private shakedown, Barcelona
February 2 – Mercedes launch, online
February 3 – Williams launch, Grove
February 8 – Cadillac launch, Super Bowl LX TV commercial
February 9 – McLaren launch, Bahrain
February 9 – Aston Martin launch, Saudi Arabia
February 11-13 – First official pre-season test, Bahrain
February 18-20 – Second official pre-season test, Bahrain
Chris Medland
While studying Sports Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, Chris managed to talk his way into working at the British Grand Prix in 2008 and was retained for three years before joining ESPN F1 as Assistant Editor. After three further years at ESPN, a spell as F1 Editor at Crash Media Group was followed by the major task of launching F1i.com’s English-language website and running it as Editor. Present at every race since the start of 2014, he has continued building his freelance portfolio, working with international titles. As well as writing for RACER, his broadcast work includes television appearances on F1 TV and as a presenter and reporter on North America's live radio coverage on SiriusXM.
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