Most Formula 1 teams are working on a special launch event to unveil their 2026 cars for the first time. Only Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls have a date so far.
There is not much holiday time for the teams in Formula 1. Shortly after the current season comes to a close with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday December 7, the first test for the new 2026 season will take place.
On January 26, 2026, a new generation of cars designed around the dramatically different 2026 regulations will roll out of their pit boxes for the first time. But the outside world will likely see little of it as it’s a closed-door test in Barcelona.
F1 teams plan a launch in 2026
In a ‘normal’ F1 season, the world sees the F1 cars for the first time during a launch - an event that almost every team organises individually to ceremonially unveil the new car. But with limited time between the turn of the year and the first test, organising such a launch is quite the challenge.
A brief survey by GPblog shows that most teams still intend to organise their own launch event to unveil their 2026 challenger. GPblog believes several teams plan to pick a moment around the tests.
Whether that will be a large-scale event like in previous years is uncertain. A photo op in the pit lane or a digital (press) moment is not being ruled out.
Only Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls have clear when their new cars will be presented to the public.
No joint event in London
Next season there will not be a big joint event organised by Formula One like the F1 75 launch event in held in London’s O2 Arena ahead of the current season. While that show was a great success, the short window before the first test in 2026 leaves little room for a repeat F1 next year.
But it is not out of the question that a joint launch event will return in 2027.
GPblog's latest F1 Paddock Update
Want to stay up-to-date with what happens in the F1 paddock? Then GPblog's F1 Paddock Update video is the perfect way to do it. Subscribe to GPblog's YouTube channel and turn on notifications to never miss the latest episodes.
Popular on GPBlog
Russell laughs at Verstappen in Mexico GP: 'This kid's a f***** joke'
Red Bull Racing has set the date for the launch of Verstappen's RB22
This will be Hamilton's best chance to end podium-free streak
