When will F1 teams launch their 2026 cars? Dates, times and how to watch ahead of regulation changes

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Formula 1 teams are preparing for the start of the 2026 season, with the launches of this year’s cars beginning in the coming weeks.

With the season getting underway in March, each car will be revealed ahead of public pre-season testing in Bahrain on 11 February.

Although car launches usually only reveal each team’s liveries for the new season, anticipation is growing around the 2026 events due to a number of significant regulation changes.

The incoming wave of changes will see new chassis and engine rules, which will result in smaller and shorter cars, with the aim to make races more exciting and the cars more sustainable.

Alongside the regulation changes, the grid will expand to 22 cars in 2026, with Cadillac making their debut in Australia on 8 March.

The American outfit will debut their brand new car during the Super Bowl in February, with the livery reveal appearing in the infamous advert line-up.

After a mixed response from the F1 75 car launch in 2025, teams will go back to their own individual car launches ahead of the 2026 season.

Confirmed F1 2026 car launch dates

All of the F1 teams have now announced when fans can expect to catch their first glimpses of the 2026 cars.

Red Bull and their sister team Racing Bulls will be the first team to launch this year’s challengers, with a partnership event with Ford Racing taking place in Detroit mid January.

The countdown is on — which 2026 challenger are you most excited to see? 👀

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How to watch the 2026 F1 car launches

Compared to last year’s singular car launch, each team has returned to their own events over the coming month.

Here is how each Formula 1 team plans to unveil their 2026 car and how to watch:

Red Bull & Racing Bulls – 15 January

Red Bull and their sister team Racing Bulls will take part in the first joint car launch in F1 history, with the teams being the first to announce their event date.

Both teams will reveal their “respective liveries for a new generation of cars” at a joint affair on Thursday 15 January, alongside the new Red Bull Powertrains partner Ford Racing.

The event will take place live in Detroit, Michigan at 10pm (3am GMT) and will be broadcast live on the Red Bull Racing website.

Both Red Bull and Racing Bulls are not expected to unveil their new regulation cars or the liveries that fans can expect to see when the season kicks off in Australia.

Haas – 19 January

Haas had previously announced their car launch would take place on Friday 23 January, however it was recently brought forward to Monday 19 January.

This was to avoid clashing with a couple of other teams, including Ferrari and Alpine, who are also scheduled to reveal their challengers on the 23rd.

Haas will continue with their traditional online launch for their 2026 cars, with fans able to catch a glimpse at this season’s challenger on the American outfit’s social media channels, including Facebook, X and Instagram.

Audi – 20 January

Audi will make their debut on the 2026 Formula 1 grid, after completing the takeover of the Sauber team at the end of the last season.

The team have not announced too many details around their livery for the 2026 season, after previously revealing its concept livery last year.

Audi have not revealed too many details about their car launch, but fans should check the team’s Instagram page for further details of their 2026 challenger on Tuesday 20 January.

Audi has also revealed a unique fan experience in 2026, giving Formula 1 fans the opportunity to see the car up close in Berlin on 21 January. Fans can apply on the Audi website to be one of the select few to see the R26 in person before it hits the track for the Barcelona test a week later.

Mercedes – 22 January & 2 February

Mercedes has opted to split the launch of their 2026 car, making announcements either side of the closed pre-season test in Barcelona.

The Brackley-based squad will unveil the first images of the new car on Thursday 22 January on their social channels, including Facebook, X and Instagram.

Mercedes will then officially launch the W17 on Monday 2 February with a launch show that will feature both drivers, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, who will be joined by team principal Toto Wolff.

The launch show will offer fans an in-depth look at the technical changes made to Mercedes’ 2026 challenger and will be available on the team’s social media channels.

Ferrari – 23 January

Ferrari are reportedly planning a proper reveal event for the SF-26 on Friday 23 January.

The Maranello-based outfit have hosted a live broadcast from the Fiorano Circuit in previous years, with it expected that Ferrari could continue this tradition.

Ferrari usually gives fans a glimpse of some on-track action, although this is yet to be confirmed, considering the significant regulation changes.

Fans should keep their eyes on Ferrari’s social channels, including Facebook, X and Instagram, for the first glimpse of the SF-26.

Alpine – 23 January

Alpine will launch the livery for the A526 at an event in Barcelona on Friday 23 January, just days before the start of the first pre-season test.

The team’s drivers, Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly, will be in attendance for the livery launch, although Alpine are yet to release any further details on how fans can watch online.

Fans should keep their eyes on Alpine’s social media channels, including Instagram, X and Threads for the launch.

Williams – 3 February

Williams will be the first team after the closed Barcelona test to reveal their 2026 livery for the FW48, with a launch on Tuesday 3 February.

It will come just days after the Grove-based squad debuts their fan-picked livery during pre-season testing, which saw over 55,000 Williams fans vote for the one-off design.

Although only the date has been released for the FW48 livery launch, Williams have told fans to keep an eye on their website, as well as their social media channels, including Instagram and X, for further updates.

Cadillac – 8 February

Setting a tone for their intentions for their Formula 1 debut, Cadillac are making a statement with their livery launch on Sunday 8 February.

The American outfit will kick off their season with the launch being broadcast as part of the infamous advert breaks during the Super Bowl.

Dan Towriss, CEO of Cadillac’s F1 team, said: “The Super Bowl is one of the rare moments in American culture where sports, entertainment and storytelling come together, and it gives us a chance to introduce Cadillac Formula 1 Team on a stage that reflects who we are.

“We’re proud of our American heritage and we want to show up in a way that feels bold, innovative and distinctly ours. This is just the beginning, but it’s a moment I’m incredibly proud of.”

Aston Martin – 9 February

Excitement is bubbling around Aston Martin’s 2026 season after the announcement that Adrian Newey would join the team, before it was later revealed that the iconic car designer would become the team principal next season.

Aston Martin, who also sees Honda come onboard as a new engine supplier in 2026, will unveil the AMR26 on Monday 9 February.

The reveal comes just two days before the start of the second pre-season test in Bahrain on Wednesday 11 February.

Aston Martin are yet to release any further details for their launch, although they are teasing the reveal on their social media channels, including Facebook, X and Instagram.

McLaren – 9 February

McLaren were the last of the 11 teams to announce their car launch date for 2026, with the Woking-based squad revealing a live launch event from Bahrain.

2025 world champion Lando Norris will be joined by his teammate Oscar Piastri, as well as team principal Andrea Stella and McLaren CEO Zak Brown, as they showcase the 2026 livery.

The broadcast will take place at 3pm GMT from the Bahrain International Circuit, but are yet to reveal any further information.