The 2026 Formula 1 cars will not be unveiled in a live show like this year’s. Despite the event at The O2 in London being successful in terms of viewership numbers, the premier class has decided not to replicate it.
The 2025 season launch was spectacular: 1.1 million people had connected to F1’s YouTube channel to follow the live broadcast. In total, 7.5 million viewers followed the show across various platforms.
According to information obtained by Autosport, FOM, which holds the commercial rights, has decided not to repeat the event to launch the 2026 Formula 1 season. There are two reasons. Firstly, the F1-75 show was meant to celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of Formula 1.
The other reason concerns the new regulations that will come into effect next year. Teams will have to use completely new cars and power units. Cadillac will join the ten teams currently on the grid, and everyone will need to be ready for three days of pre-season testing between Barcelona and Bahrain (details here).
A historic format change that coincides with the new era of Formula 1. FOM considered that a spectacular event like the one in London last February would only bring too many distractions. Teams, in fact, should focus solely on the track, as well as on next year’s sponsors – many of whom are still in the contractual phase.
Even though the door has been closed on another F1-75-style show, it doesn’t mean it couldn’t return in the future. Autosport, in fact, revealed that the option of organizing it in other key cities – instead of returning to London – is still being considered.
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