F1 teams prepare special events to unveil their cars for the new era, balancing secrecy and spectacle
Formula 1 is already looking ahead to 2026, a year that will mark a major turning point for both technical and aerodynamic regulations. While the current season will conclude on December 7 in Abu Dhabi, the teams are already working to organize the debut of the next-generation cars.
The first official test sessions will take place on January 26, 2026, in Barcelona, but it will be a closed-door event. The cars will roll out of the garages for the first time away from the public eye. For this reason, much of the attention will focus on the launch events that the teams are now planning.
As tradition dictates, every team will hold its own official presentation, although this year the tight schedule could change the format. Some may opt for a digital launch or a simple photo session in the pit lane. Others, instead, are preparing more spectacular presentations to coincide with the winter testing period.
Among the most active teams in preparing their new models are Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls, which are currently the only ones to have officially confirmed a date for the unveiling of their 2026 Formula 1 cars. The two Red Bull family teams, traditionally among the most creative and media-focused in the paddock, want to kick off the new regulatory era in style, with launches designed to highlight both technical continuity and the evolution of their projects.
A survey conducted by GPblog reveals that almost all the teams intend to maintain the tradition of a launch event, despite the tight schedule and the intense workload required by the new technical rules. However, a large joint event like the one in London in 2025, when the cars were unveiled together at the O2 Arena, is not expected this time.
The idea of a joint presentation could return in 2027, but for now, each team will proceed independently, keeping details strictly under wraps. What is certain is that the anticipation is growing: the 2026 Formula 1 cars will represent a new beginning for the sport, and their launches could turn out to be among the most anticipated and innovative in history.
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