Haas moves F1 2026 launch date after unforeseen development
As three teams pick 23 January for their season launch, Haas brings its own forward
Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal of Haas
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
The Haas Formula 1 team will unveil its challenger for the 2026 season on 19 January, instead of 23 January as initially planned.
Haas announced its intention to reveal the new VF-26 that day in early December, shortly after Alpine officially scheduled a season launch that same day, but Ferrari went on to announce it would unveil its new car on 23 January too.
Haas has therefore decided to switch to 19 January “to avoid over-congestion of team launches” on the original date, a spokesperson for the team stated.
The VF-26 will first appear as digital renders and video. It will be powered by Ferrari like every Haas car in history, and driven by Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman again after both racers joined the squad full-time last year.
2026 will mark a new era for Haas as its technical partnership with Toyota is upgraded to title sponsor status. The outfit, which finished eighth in last year’s constructors’ championship, was previously sponsored by currency transfer company MoneyGram.
Pre-season testing gets under way at Barcelona from 26-30 January.
2026 F1 team launch schedule
| Date | Team(s) | Location | Car reveal? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 January |
Red Bull Racing Bulls |
 Detroit, Michigan |
Livery only |
| 19 January |
Haas |
Online | 2026 car |
| 20 January |
Audi |
 Berlin |
Livery only |
| 20 January |
Honda |
 Tokyo |
Power unit only |
| 22 January |
Mercedes |
Online | Livery only |
| 23 January | Alpine |  Barcelona |
TBC |
| 23 January | Ferrari |  Fiorano |
2026 car |
| 2 February | Mercedes | TBC | 2026 car |
| 3 February | Williams | TBC | Livery only |
| 8 February | Cadillac |  Super Bowl advert |
Livery only |
| 9 February | Aston Martin | TBC | 2026 car |
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