Month: January 2026

Alpine became the seventh Formula 1 team to unveil their livery in the upcoming Formula 1 season.

The Enstone-based outfit hosted its season launch on a cruise ship off the Catalan coast near Barcelona, celebrating the team’s partnership with MSC Cruises.

The new design is not that much different from its predecessor, with Alpine’s blue associated with title-sponsor BWT’s pink.

Alpine are planning that this season’s new technical era with revamped chassis and engine regulations will improve performance.

By focusing on the 2026 car following a disappointing tenth position in the constructors’ championship, lead driver Pierre Gasly is hoping for better machinery after committing his long-term future to the outfit. He will team up with Franco Colapinto, competing in his first full campaign.

Designed under executive technical director David Sanchez, the new car was shaken down at Silverstone, ahead of the opening pre-season test at Barcelona.

“The last year has been truly extraordinary in Formula One terms,” Sanchez said, delving into Alpine’s new car – which wasn’t on display in the event. “With such big changes in the regulations, this project has been a very interesting challenge and one we have really given our all towards.

“Ultimately, the car is shorter and narrower than recent years with some aerodynamic freedom to explore. We have the return of active aero where we have the ability to have movable front and rear wings, something the vast majority of the drivers on the grid will not have experienced before. The reduction in downforce and drag is expected to bring better racing, which I am sure all fans will be intrigued to watch.

“Then, of course, we have more electric power in the power units since we have partnered with Mercedes-AMG for 2026. It has been fantastic to work closely with our new colleagues from Brixworth in recent months and weeks, as we all work together to understand how best to maximise the package.

“In addition to the power unit challenge and the new 100% sustainable fuels, we will also have some new terminology for us to get used to with overtake mode, boost mode and recharge all set to enter our vocabulary this year.

“All of us at Enstone look forward to getting started in Barcelona next week where we have much to learn and understand on the A526.”

Scuderia Ferrari became the latest Formula 1 team to unveil its 2026 car, the SF-26, in a short video presentation ahead of a shakedown at its Fiorano test track.

The Italian outfit will conduct a shakedown at Fiorano, with both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc on hand to complete the first laps of Ferrari’s new race car for the upcoming season.

The Scuderia is aiming to recover from a disappointing 2026 championship, in which it dropped to fourth in the constructors’ standings, with the main focus of its season being Hamilton’s struggle to adapt to Ferrari as he was unable to pick up a Grand Prix podium for the first time in his impressive career.

That left Leclerc to lead the battle for Ferrari, who took seven podiums across the year, to finish in fifth position in the drivers’ championship – just one spot ahead of Hamilton.

Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur set an “aggressive” approach to development of the 2026 Formula 1 car, with final assembly planned to be completed on the eve of the launch and shakedown.

With the weight of expectation at an all-time high, it means it is set to be a make-or-break season for Ferrari and for Hamilton, who made the bold move to join the famous motor racing team twelve months ago.

Hamilton heads into the new Formula 1 season without the identity of his race engineer announced, after the recent news that Riccardo Adami will no longer serve in that role as he takes up a new position in Ferrari’s young driver programme.

To be honest, not keen on that white part on the engine cover for the sponsor HP and yet it pays the bills. Fingers crossed the SF-26 is competitive for Charles and Lewis to fight for the championship.

Mercedes have revealed the first images of their 2026 race car, which features a revised livery in their iconic silver and black colours.

The W17 meets Formula 1’s new technical regulations on the chassis and engine sides, featuring active aerodynamics and a near-50:50 split between internal combustion and electric energy.

The new Mercedes has a mostly unchanged black and silver design, with turquoise accents to reflect the everlasting sponsor Petronas.

A notable addition to the livery is the Microsoft logo on the airbox and the front wing endplates, with Mercedes snapping up Alpine’s longtime partner.

“Formula 1 will undergo significant change in 2026, and we are prepared for that transition,” team principal Toto Wolff said. “The new regulations demand innovation and absolute focus across every area of performance. Our work on the new car, and the long-term development of the power unit and advanced sustainable fuels with Petronas, reflects that approach.

“Releasing the first images of the W17 is simply the next step in that process. It represents the collective, sustained effort of our teams in Brixworth and Brackley. We will continue to push hard in the months ahead.”

Like its predecessor, the new Silver Arrow will be raced by George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who finished fourth and seventh respectively in last season’s drivers’ championship.

Mercedes took the runner-up spot in the constructors’ standings, narrowly holding off rival Red Bull Racing, but was never a real title contender against a dominant McLaren.

The W17 will take to the track at the first pre-season test at Barcelona from 26-30 January, ahead of the team’s season launch event on 2 February.

Do like the stripes at the back of the car. Very nice detail. Reflecting the Adidas branding, which is one of the team’s major sponsor.

Will be be fascinating if the W17 is the car to beat this season as early rumours that the Mercedes power unit is the new benchmark in this new rules changes for the upcoming season.

The Audi Formula 1 team became the fourth outfit to reveal their livery for the forthcoming 2026 season, with a presentation event in Berlin.

The R26 features an unique branding, celebrating Audi’s rich heritage in motorsport especially the WEC, with a split livery. The front part is classic silver which used to be the national colour of Germany. While the back part is the use of orange and black, with the famous Audi rings logo on the rear wing and engine cover.

Audi, who have enjoyed immense success in other motorsport series, unveiled the R26 that featured a striking titanium, carbon fibre and lava red livery first teased last year.

This team is a rebrand of Sauber, meaning Audi are entering its first season of Formula 1 racing following big, new change in the regulations. It will be interesting how Audi will compete against another German manufacturer rival, Mercedes.

Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto will be the drivers for the upcoming championship, with the former scoring a popular podium at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone with P3.

Audi CEO Gernot Dollner reiterated the team’s goal to compete for the Formula 1 world championship by 2030.

“Today marks more than a launch; it marks the public declaration of a new era for Audi,” said Dollner. “Formula 1 is the most demanding stage in the world of motorsport, and we are here not just to compete, but to define the future of ‘Vorsprung durch Technik.’

“This project is a catalyst for our entire company, a symbol of our transformation towards a more performance-driven, efficient, and innovative culture. Our philosophy is one of absolute, long-term commitment.

“We understand that success in Formula 1 demands relentless perseverance and Audi Revolut F1 Team is not here to make up the numbers; we aim to be fighting for the World Championship by 2030.”

The manufacturer has taken over the team formerly known as Sauber. While its chassis was built at the Swiss team’s base in Hinwil, Audi developed and constructed its all-new Formula 1 power unit in Neuberg.

The Haas Formula 1 team became the third outfit to reveal its livery for the forthcoming 2026 season, with an increase in sponsorship with technical partner Toyota Gazoo Racing.

Both parties entered a technical partnership at the end of 2024, but the relationship has been strengthened for this year with the official name becoming ‘TGR Haas F1 Team’.

That has been reflected in the team’s new livery: Toyota has received branding across the engine cover, front wing and the front of the halo for the season which introduces widespread regulation changes.

The US-based outfit comes into it having finished eighth in last season’s constructors standings with Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon, who will remain as drivers this season, giving Haas its best points total of 79 points since 2018.

“Like all teams, we’ve faced the challenge of competing in 2025 while looking to design and now build these new-regulation entries for the 2026 season,” said owner Gene Haas, whose team has joined Red Bull and Racing Bulls in already launching their new design.

“The pre-season will be crucial to understand what these cars are capable of and how the drivers, engineers and teams in general adapt to them. We at least have continuity in terms of the drivers, with Ollie and Esteban, as well as in our design and engineering teams.

“Last season’s competition in the midfield was of an exceptionally high standard, it was tough, and we need to go out again and continue to develop – both on- and off-track. Personally, I’m going to be very interested to see how the competition shakes out across the grid and what these new regulations bring in terms of performance.”

The new livery features a lot more white than last year, with it replacing the previously black engine cover and front halo plus additional red to represent Toyota branding.

Haas also unveiled its design through a simple online event, rather than a big media presentation at Detroit like the Red Bull-owned teams.

And through the images provided, it is clear that Haas has gone for a pushrod front suspension and has opted for a pushrod setup at the rear as well. The renders also feature wide winglets on its front wing.

“It feels almost a bit surreal to be unveiling a new car this early in the year, but it’s not any less exciting venturing into a new F1 campaign – especially one with such a change in regulations,” said team principal Ayao Komatsu.

“We’re fully focused on being ready for shakedown week in Barcelona. It’s been a monumental effort from everyone on the team to work with such a tight turnaround time from the end of last season to putting cars on track in January.

“It goes without saying that after so much talk, we can’t wait to see how these cars will perform and what we’ll face as we then progress through our test programs ahead of Australia.

“Track time is going to be crucial through Spain and Bahrain and while we know there’s going to be challenges along the way, we do this because we’re passionate about Formula 1.”

In a joint launch event with Red Bull, sister team Racing Bulls has revealed its updated colour scheme for the 2026 Formula 1 championship, sticking with the predominantly white livery for the upcoming season.

Held at the iconic Central Michigan train station, the launch saw both Racing Bulls and Red Bull reveal their liveries in the city known as the United States home of Ford, with the 2026 campaign marking the first in which Red Bull Ford Powertrains will act as power unit manufacturer for both outfits.

The team’s decision to turn to a white livery proved a success last year, and the colour scheme of the 2026 challenger will follow the same route, with a white base colours complemented by black and blue accents.

Although the little bulls that ran on the engine cover in last year’s car is gone, this livery seems like a downgrade or basic approach with the new Ford partnership.

The car will be driven by Liam Lawson, who stays on for what will be his first full season, and 2026’s only rookie Arvid Lindblad, who moves up to a race seat after Isack Hadjar’s promotion to Red Bull’s main factory team.

Title sponsors Visa and Cash App remain on board and take over the most visible areas on the car, while the addition of blue streaks to the engine cover and sidepod to represent Ford.

Racing Bulls finished sixth in last year’s championship after a strong and consistent campaign, equalling its best result in Formula 1, with Hadjar taking the team’s sixth-ever podium with a spectacular third place finish at Zandvoort’s Dutch Grand Prix. Alan Permane remains on board as team principal after having taken over mid-season from Laurent Mekies, who now heads up Red Bull.

Red Bull Racing has unveiled their new glossy livery with the RB22. This will be the first Formula 1 racing car fitted with in-house power units in partnership with Ford.

The team hosted a special launch in Detroit, at the home of its new power unit partner, by revealing a show car featuring a refreshed colour scheme after years of very similar liveries.

The 2026 look for the RB22 features a “heritage white base” that the team said will “provide more depth and clarity and allow the iconic sun and bull logo to pop”.

The RB22, which will be driven by four-time world champion Max Verstappen and his new teammate Isack Hadjar, who has been promoted from the sister team Racing Bulls.

The black and blue livery has been tweaked with a lighter shade of blue applied in a so-called jacquard pattern, while also returning to a glossy finish after years of running the matte finish.

Following the conclusion of its partnership with Honda, which ended up moving to Aston Martin, Red Bull has been building its first-ever in-house power units at Red Bull Powertrains, the biggest technical challenge the team has taken on in its twenty year history.

“I loved the idea of it being a blank sheet of paper, not just the power unit but the whole company, so we could custom build it to what we knew the regulations were going to be, which was a pretty cool opportunity,” said Red Bull Powertrains chief Ben Hodgkinson.

“The gravity of what that meant took a while to really sink in and trying to find what’s turned into 700 people in a short space of time has been really challenging.

“If you create a really bold and audacious project it only really attracts bold and audacious people, so those people fit the Red Bull culture absolutely like a glove. It’s brilliant for the rate of innovation, so it’s been an exciting, pretty intense four years.”

The new glossy look certainly looks beautiful. Very similar style to the Sebastian Vettel’s cars from the past. Hopefully the new partnership with Ford will be competitive this season.