Overview
- Pre-season running expands to a five-day, behind-closed-doors test in Barcelona this month, followed by two three-day tests in Bahrain ahead of the season opener in Australia.
- Launch calendar is set: Red Bull and Racing Bulls unveil 2026 liveries in Detroit on January 15, Audi and Honda hold January 20 events in Berlin and Tokyo, Ferrari/Alpine/Haas go on January 23, Cadillac debuts its livery during the February 8 Super Bowl broadcast, and Aston Martin reveals the Honda-powered AMR26 on February 9.
- Red Bull and Mercedes introduced refreshed team logos on January 1 as part of broader rebrands for the new rules era.
- Toto Wolff says Mercedes is on track to meet internal 2026 targets but stresses true competitiveness will only be revealed in testing, echoing Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur’s view that Melbourne will not define the order.
- The rules revamp deletes the MGU-H, increases the role of electrical energy, and replaces DRS with active front and rear wings plus an overtake power mode, changes helping draw Audi to take over Sauber, bring Honda back with Aston Martin, and add Cadillac as the 11th team with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.