The F1 2026 launch calendar is already seeing its first major shifts. Haas has decided to get ahead of the curve, changing its schedule to become the first team to show a real 2026 car to the fans. Time is moving incredibly fast, and the teams are entering a critical window: from livery reveals to car launches, and then straight onto the tarmac at Barcelona. The Spanish testing sessions are set for January 26 to 30, preceding the double-header in Bahrain. The new season is effectively knocking at the door.
It feels like only yesterday that Lando Norris secured the World Championship title, overcoming the likes of Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri in the final round of the season. Yet, only a month has passed since that Yas Marina finale, and Formula 1 is already hyper-focused on what comes next. The 2026 revolution changes everything on the grid, including the testing format; this year, we will see three separate sessions—one in Spain and two in Bahrain.
The design projects are now finalized, with some teams having worked on their new single-seaters for over a year. This is particularly true for outfits like Williams and Alpine, who completely sacrificed their 2025 development cycles to ensure they were ready for this upcoming season. And while teams are currently jostling for position just to secure the best possible launch date, the American squad at Haas has decided to play an early hand.
Haas shifts its 2026 reveal date
In the original plans of the American outfit, the first renders of the VF-26 were scheduled to be unveiled on January 23. This was shaping up to be a particularly busy day for the paddock, as both Ferrari and Alpine are also slated to hold their presentations on that same date. Just one day prior, on January 22, it will be Mercedes’ turn to showcase the initial shapes of their 2026 challenger.
Haas has therefore decided to pull their timeline forward: the car will now be shown on January 19. These will be the first genuine images of a new-generation car to reach the public, given that Red Bull and Racing Bulls will only be presenting their respective liveries during their events on January 15.
As the countdown to the first green light in Barcelona continues, these launch dates provide the first real glimpse into how teams have interpreted the radical new regulations. With Haas moving their date to January 19, they have successfully stolen the spotlight, ensuring they are the first to define the aesthetic of this new era before the heavy hitters like Ferrari and Mercedes take the stage. It is a tactical move that signals just how high the stakes are for every team on the grid as they head into the unknown of 2026.
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