possibly repost, but reading the last few posts i felt the need to reply…
I’ll just leave this here
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Formula 1 to return to Portugal in 2027 and 2028
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Everything You Need To Know About the Formula 1 2026 Regulations
2026 brings with it a new breed of Formula 1 car that will see both the chassis and power units updated, in the biggest overhaul of regulations in the sport’s history. Get up to speed with everything you need to know about these game-changing cars as we race into a new generation of racing!
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Another summary of the 2026 season, this time from PlanetF1.
F1 2026 is a season of huge change, so here is everything you need to know as Formula 1 moves into a new era.
Sweeping regulation changes are combined with relative driver continuity from season to season, but the changes begin even in pre-season testing.
When is F1 2026 pre-season testing?
With all-new cars to contend with, pre-season testing has been expanded from its usual three days to 11 days ahead of the F1 2026 season.
A five-day behind closed doors shakedown in Barcelona will kick off the teams’ testing schedule, before two three-day tests in Bahrain.
- Shakedown: 26-30 January, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
- Test one: 11-13 February, Bahrain International Circuit
- Test two: 18-20 February, Bahrain International Circuit
When does the F1 2026 season start?
Racing gets underway in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8 at Albert Park.
Australia hosts the opening round as part of an Asian-swing to start the year before heading to the Middle East, United States, and finally Europe.
F1 2026 calendar: Where are the races being held and when?
*Denotes F1 Sprint event
- March 6-8: Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne
- March 13-15: Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai*
- March 27-29: Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka
- April 10-12: Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir
- April 17-19: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Jeddah
- May 1-3: Miami Grand Prix, Miami*
- May 22-24: Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal*
- June 5-7: Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo
- June 12-14: Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, Barcelona
- June 26-28: Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg
- July 3-5: British Grand Prix, Silverstone*
- July 17-19: Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps
- July 24-26: Hungarian Grand Prix, Budapest
- August 21-23: Dutch Grand Prix, Zandvoort*
- September 4-6: Italian Grand Prix, Monza
- September 11-13: Spanish Grand Prix, Madrid
- September 25-27: Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku
- October 9-11: Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay*
- October 23-25: United States Grand Prix, Austin
- October 30 – November 1: Mexico City Grand Prix, Mexico City
- November 6-8: Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Interlagos
- November 19-21: Las Vegas Grand Prix, Las Vegas
- November 27-29: Qatar Grand Prix, Lusail
- December 4-6: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina
Where are the F1 2026 Sprint races being held?
As has been the case for the past few years, there will be six F1 Sprint events, as follows:
- March 14 Chinese Grand Prix – Shanghai
- May 2 Miami Grand Prix – Miami
- May 23 Canadian Grand Prix – Montreal
- July 4 British Grand Prix – Silverstone
- August 22 Dutch Grand Prix – Zandvoort
- October 10 Singapore Grand Prix – Marina Bay
What driver changes were made ahead of the F1 2026 season?
After five rookies took to the grid in 2025, just the one will be doing so in 2026, with British teenager Arvid Lindblad stepping onto the grid with Racing Bulls.
Yuki Tsunoda will drop into a test and reserve role with Red Bull, as Isack Hadjar partners Max Verstappen after an impressive rookie season in Formula 1.
With Cadillac arriving on the grid as the sport’s 11th team, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will both return to Formula 1 after a year on the sidelines.
Who are the F1 drivers on the 2026 grid?
- Alpine – Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto
- Aston Martin – Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll
- Audi F1 – Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto
- Cadillac – Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez
- Ferrari – Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
- Haas – Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon
- McLaren – Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris
- Mercedes – George Russell and Kimi Antonelli
- Racing Bulls – Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad
- Red Bull – Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar
- Williams – Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz
What is each F1 driver’s race number in 2026?
Rookie numbers in italics.
1 – Lando Norris
3 – Max Verstappen
5 – Gabriel Bortoleto
6 – Isack Hadjar
10 – Pierre Gasly
11 – Sergio Perez
12 – Kimi Antonelli
14 – Fernando Alonso
16 – Charles Leclerc
18 – Lance Stroll
23 – Alex Albon
27– Nico Hulkenberg
30 – Liam Lawson
31 – Esteban Ocon
41 – Arvid Lindblad
43 – Franco Colapinto
44 – Lewis Hamilton
55 – Carlos Sainz
63 – George Russell
77 – Valtteri Bottas
81 – Oscar Piastri
87 – Oliver Bearman
Which teams are on the grid for F1 2026?
In 2025 Championship order and how they will appear in the pit lane:
- McLaren
- Mercedes
- Red Bull
- Ferrari
- Williams
- Racing Bulls
- Aston Martin
- Haas
- Audi F1 [formerly Sauber]
- Alpine
- Cadillac [new]
What are the names of each F1 2026 car?
We know the names of some F1 2026 cars at time of writing, but here are ones we know of at this moment and what we’re still waiting to know:
- McLaren – MCL40 [expected]
- Ferrari – Unknown
- Red Bull – RB22
- Mercedes – F1 W17 [expected]
- Aston Martin – AMR26
- Alpine – A526
- Haas – VF-26
- Racing Bulls – VCARB 03
- Williams – FW48
- Audi – Unknown
- Cadillac – Unknown
What are the key rule changes for the F1 2026 season?
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Both the chassis and power unit regulations in Formula 1 have changed at the same time, meaning completely new cars from front to back in Formula 1.
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The minimum weight of the cars has been lowered, tyres will be slimmer and the cars will be slightly shorter and thinner, in order to try and create a ‘light, nimble’ racing experience compared to before.
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Ground effect aerodynamics have been replaced, as teams focus on drag reduction through active aero – meaning movable front and rear wing elements – which also brings to an end the 15-season stay of DRS in the sport.
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More powerful electric motors (around treble the previous output) partner a 1.6-litre V6 combustion engine in the cars, producing similar levels of power to the previous cars, though generated in a different way – and run on fully sustainable fuels.
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The fuel capacity limit is dropping from around 105kg to about 70kg, meaning the drivers will have to rely on their increased electrical power and battery deployment to help maximise lap times.
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Cars are predicted to have higher top speeds than the previous generation of car, but an overall 30 per cent reduction in downforce has been predicted ahead of the new season, meaning we may see slower lap times than before as a result of lower cornering speeds.
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The engine development freeze has also been lifted, meaning every power unit manufacturer will be able to develop its products and potentially leading to a PU ‘development war’ in the years to come. However, a cost cap is in place to keep somewhat of a lid on things.
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Heading into some smaller rule changes, the drivers have been allowed to modify their permanent driver number in Formula 1, which Max Verstappen opted to do. He has switched from number 33 when a non-title holder, to number 3, as he said it was always his preference.
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When a ‘heat hazard’ is declared for a race weekend, drivers will also be mandated to wear cooling vests to help their temperature while inside the cockpit.
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Off track, the stewards will be able to initiate a new review themselves on any incident when based on new evidence, while the fee for appealing a verdict for the teams has reportedly been increased significantly heading into 2026.
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It’s LAUWE NCHEK! Okay, so that doesn’t work so well. The 2026 season starts in earnest this week with the Red Bull and Racing Bulls reveals later this week.
2026 F1 Launch List (& Testing Dates)
- Red Bull + Racing Bulls - 15 January
- Haas - 19 January
- Audi + Honda - 20 January
- Mercedes - 22 January
- Alpine + Ferrari - 23 January
- First Test - Closed (Barcelona) - 26-30 January
- Mercedes - 2 February
- Williams - 3 February
- Cadillac - 8 February
- Aston Martin + McLaren - 9 February
- Second Test (Bahrain) - 11-13 February
- Third Test (Bahrain) - 18-20 February
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Not gonna lie…i Read it as follows: *Denotes F1 Spring event
I got strangely excited and curious as to what that might be…
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While its just going to be livery reveals, I at least want to see them on a base spec 2026 car, please.
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Yeah that looks correct. suppose everyone will just do renders like this for livery reveals until its time for the first test.
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The Red Bull and Racing Bulls Season Launch event is happening on the 15th (i.e. today) in the US. They’re sucking up to Ford and doing it in Detroit at night US time. So that’s 05:00 tomorrow morning here. So, the renders will be available when we wake up. Personally, I expect both of them to look very much like they have for the past few seasons.
If you really want to…
Follow all of the action from Detroit, Michigan as Oracle Red Bull Racing unveils its livery for the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 season.
Or on the Racing Bulls channel if you prefer:
Live from Detroit, the home of Ford Motor Company, Visa Cash App Racing Bulls bring you their new livery for the 2026 season!
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F1.com is playing favourites! Red Bull has 8 photos, and VCARB only 5!!!
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I somehow never posted, but Redbull looking good, its nice to see a change up for once, even if its going back to old colours.
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Looks like we have the first actual car and not a stock model?
Those endplates look quite different(aggresive!) as well as the fact that they got pod vents
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I like it - definitely hitting those Gazoo Racing looks. And you’re right about the aggressive looks. And that front wing! Little winglets on the tips look perfect for slicing through some opposition tyres. 
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I just told a group the same things about the shape 
I also said I would add some weird elements onto a virtually final car design that is clearly breaking the rules, but then wait to see how many team complain. Like, make the T-cam big enough to actually have aerodynamic influence. Or make the front wing as high as the back wing… You know, just for giggles.
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How to watch Audi’s 2026 launch live
F1 fans can watch Audi’s season launch via a live stream on the official Audi F1 website.
When the event starts [at 20:00SAST], a livestream will be available at:
Don’t know if the website will be the only place showing it live. There’s very little on the official Audi F1 YouTube channel.
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First on track images of the VCARB from a marketing day run I assume.
Even without a comparison to last seasons’ cars, I like how it just looks smaller and more compact. Maybe it’s just a visual thing because of the narrower wings?
Also, that air intake is huge. And all those vents on the top of the Haas sidepods. Maybe the new engines run hot?
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