Overview
- Haas moved its VF‑26 presentation to January 19 to avoid a crowded launch day, unveiling via digital renders with Ferrari power and retaining Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman, as Toyota steps up as title sponsor.
- Formula 1 published the full 2026 schedule with 24 Grands Prix and six sprint events, including Saturday races in Baku and Las Vegas, plus Barcelona pre‑season testing from January 26–30.
- With Cadillac joining to make 22 entrants, the FIA tweaked qualifying so six drivers are eliminated in Q1 and six in Q2, keeping 10 for Q3; the sprint shootout uses shorter sessions with the same elimination counts.
- F1’s official rollout calendar lists most team launch dates: Red Bull and Racing Bulls on January 15, Haas on January 19, Audi on January 20, Mercedes on January 22, Ferrari and Alpine on January 23, with Williams, Cadillac and Aston Martin in February and McLaren still pending.
- The FIA confirmed permanent driver numbers for 2026, assigning Lando Norris the No. 1 and approving Max Verstappen’s switch to No. 3, as the series fields 22 drivers for the first time with Cadillac’s entry.