2026 Formula 1 Season: Key Preseason Dates

F1 2026 preseason is split into two parts: team launches and reveals, then three track blocks that let teams validate brand new cars under brand new rules. The key point for fans is timing. The earlier events are about liveries, branding, and first looks. The track sessions are where reliability, correlation, and genuine performance work begin. 

January 2026 launches and early reveals

January is when teams start showing their 2026 identity, sometimes as a livery only, sometimes as a full car reveal, sometimes as renders. These events rarely tell you who is fastest. They do tell you who is organised and who has built momentum into the regulation reset. 

January 15, Red Bull and Racing Bulls launch

Red Bull and Racing Bulls are set to share a joint event in Detroit, alongside Ford, ahead of Red Bull Ford Powertrains supplying both teams in 2026. The core output is livery and branding, plus the first public framing of how the Ford partnership fits into the new engine era. 

January 19, Haas livery reveal

Haas will reveal its 2026 livery online. This is positioned as a digital unveil rather than a live show, which usually signals a clean, controlled rollout focused on core visuals rather than a long technical presentation. 

January 20, Audi launch

Audi will stage a launch in Berlin for its first season on the grid under the Audi name. This is a milestone moment for the sport in 2026, since it marks the step from takeover project to full works identity in the public eye. 

January 20, Honda power unit launch

Honda will launch its 2026 power unit in Tokyo ahead of its exclusive partnership with Aston Martin. Power unit launches matter more in 2026 than they did in recent years, since the engine rules change sharply and early stability often shapes the first months of development. 

January 22, Mercedes initial reveal via renders

Mercedes will publish renders of its 2026 car online. Renders are not a full technical reveal, yet they do set the first public baseline for branding and packaging direction before cars hit the track in anger. 

January 23, Alpine launch

Alpine will hold a launch in Barcelona. Their teaser line is “We’ve got something to show you…” and the location is notable, given the private Barcelona running that follows soon after. “We’ve got something to show you…” 

January 23, Ferrari launch

Ferrari is also scheduled to launch on January 23. At this point in the calendar, teams are usually focused on first public presentation and readiness for the private shakedown phase that starts three days later. 

Barcelona shakedown week

This is the part many fans miss. In 2026 it is central, since it is the first real stress test of new cars built to new rules, with new power unit hardware and new control systems. It is private for a simple reason: teams want to solve embarrassing problems off camera. 

January 26 to 30, Barcelona shakedown week

F1 will run a five-day private shakedown at Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya from January 26 to January 30. The priority here is basic function, not pace. Teams use this time for reliability, cooling validation, software integration, and early correlation checks that help them trust their models before the public Bahrain sessions. 

A useful way to read the shakedown is to ignore lap times entirely. Watch for which teams get consistent mileage, run through full daily plans, and avoid repeated stoppages. Mileage is the currency of early-season confidence.

February 2026 launches and livery reveals

February shifts toward final presentation, then the public tests begin. Teams often time their media events to land just before Bahrain, so sponsors and fans see the car, then see it on track immediately after. 

February 2, Mercedes season launch

Mercedes will hold a dedicated digital season launch show on February 2. This sits after their earlier renders and just ahead of the public testing window, which makes it the natural moment for the team to frame its 2026 approach in full. 

February 3, Williams livery reveal

Williams will unveil the livery for its 2026 car, described by the team as a “striking” new look.  

February 8, Cadillac livery reveal

Cadillac will reveal its livery during a Super Bowl advert. This is a mainstream marketing play timed for maximum US audience reach, which fits a new team trying to establish identity fast in a crowded grid. 

February 9, Aston Martin launch

Aston Martin will launch its 2026 challenger on February 9. With new rules and a new power unit partnership path, the early public narrative often focuses on packaging choices and how the team expects the new era to suit its strengths. 

February 9, McLaren launch

McLaren will also launch on February 9, with an online event from Bahrain. That timing is practical. Bahrain is where the meaningful running happens, so a launch there keeps the attention tied to real track action. 

Bahrain preseason testing sessions

Bahrain is the public laboratory. This is where fans see the new cars in repeatable conditions, with timing data, long runs, and visible problem-solving. Two separate three-day sessions mean teams can run, analyse, adjust, then run again. 

February 11 to 13, Bahrain testing session one

The first Bahrain test runs from February 11 to February 13 at Bahrain International Circuit. Teams focus on aero mapping, long run stability, tyre behaviour, and early performance stints once basic reliability is proven. 

February 18 to 20, Bahrain testing session two

The second Bahrain test runs from February 18 to February 20 at the same venue. This is the final structured chance to validate upgrades, lock in baseline setups, and complete race distance simulations before the season begins. 

In 2026, the preseason story runs through January launches, a private Barcelona shakedown from January 26 to January 30, then two Bahrain tests from February 11 to 13 and February 18 to 20, which together set the baseline for the new rules era. 

2026 Formula 1 Pre-Season Key Dates