Haas have change into the primary group to disclose pictures of their 2026 automotive as they launched the VF-26 for F1’s new guidelines period.
After the livery launches of Purple Bull and Racing Bulls final week, whose 2026 appears to be like had been revealed on present vehicles, Haas kicked off every week wherein a number of groups are set to supply a primary glimpse at their precise challengers by revealing pictures on-line.
Britain’s Oliver Bearman, 20, and skilled Frenchman Esteban Ocon type the group’s driver line-up for the second successive season, with the game making ready for the introduction of an enormous regulation change that options new energy models and chassis.
The primary pictures of the VF-26 present perception into how F1’s smaller and lighter 2026 vehicles will look, with vastly completely different entrance and rear wings to the earlier era contributing to much less downforce and drag.
The group’s new 2026 livery was additionally shared, with the black carbon areas of final yr’s automotive changed by extra giant white areas and extra pink accents. The scheme additionally nods to the group’s new title sponsor for this yr, Toyota Gazoo Racing.
Komatsu: It has been a monumental effort
Haas completed eighth in final yr’s Constructors’ Championship however come into 2026 with some momentum having amassed the second-highest factors complete of their 10-season historical past.
Haas group principal Ayao Komatsu stated: “It feels almost a bit surreal to be unveiling a new car this early in the year but it’s not any less exciting venturing into a new F1 campaign – especially one with such a change in regulations.”
There are three separate testing occasions for groups to fine-tune their vehicles earlier than the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 8, with the primary going down in Barcelona from January 26-30 earlier than the opposite two observe in Bahrain in February.
“We’re fully focused on being ready for Shakedown Week in Barcelona,” Komatsu added. “It’s been a monumental effort from everyone on the team to work with such a tight turnaround time from the end of last season to putting cars on track in January.
“It goes with out saying that after a lot discuss, we will not wait to see how these vehicles will carry out and what we’ll face as we then progress by our take a look at applications forward of Australia.
“Track time is going to be crucial through Spain and Bahrain and while we know there’s going to be challenges along the way, we do this because we’re passionate about Formula 1.”
‘I upped my sport’ – Bearman excited to push on
Britain’s Bearman produced a powerful rookie marketing campaign, placing collectively a very spectacular second half of the yr that included a streak of 5 successive factors finishes and a career-best fourth place in Mexico.
That run of type, which noticed him comfortably outperform an skilled and strong operator in Ocon, has heightened hypothesis round Bearman’s potential as a future Ferrari driver, with the Italian group having loaned him out to Haas after signing him to their academy.
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Oliver Bearman discusses his ambition to someday be in a Ferrari seat, however admits he is ‘simply getting began’ with Haas.
Bearman stated: “It was a year where I certainly learned a lot, not only about myself as a person, or as an athlete, but also about Formula 1.
“I’ve actually elevated my data base infinitely, as a result of I have been put in experiences that you just simply cannot study previous to experiencing them. I’ve positively improved so much in all of these areas and I am actually proud of how the season went, significantly the second half.
“I really upped my game, I felt like in the second half of the season, I started to put down some really some results that I was really happy with, and that was critical for me. I’m excited to continue that this year.”
The Essex-born driver believes the expertise he gained by racing in F1 at many tracks for the primary time throughout his rookie marketing campaign will allow him to be much more aggressive in 2026.
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Oliver Bearman tells Martin Brundle that he can be ‘prepared’ for a Ferrari seat if it grew to become obtainable.
“I’m most excited to return to all of these circuits, having experienced a race weekend already,” he added. “I now understand how a track evolves through the weekend, how the tyres perform, and what changes may have tripped me up last year. More often than not, last year, I was going to new circuits where my competition had been plenty of times.
“After all, I am now going to circuits that I’ve solely pushed without delay, and the place my competitors has pushed 10 or 11 instances, however I really feel like even simply having one race weekend’s price of expertise at a circuit, and the data base that I’ve constructed up from a full season of F1 goes to place me in a significantly better place.”
When is F1 pre-season testing?
The introduction of latest rules means there’s a strong schedule of three separate testing occasions earlier than the beginning of the 2026 season.
The primary is a behind-closed-doors occasion in Barcelona from January 26-30, earlier than two checks observe in Bahrain from February 11-13 and 18-20.
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Formulation 1 explains the brand new 2026 regulation modifications, together with what is going to change DRS, in a plan to permit nearer racing subsequent yr. Video courtesy of F1.
When is the primary F1 race?
The groups then have two weeks to arrange for the opening spherical of the season, which is the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne from March 6-8.
The primary apply periods of the season will happen on Friday 6 March, with Qualifying on Saturday 7 March and the opening race on Sunday 8 March.
Watch all 24 race weekends from the 2026 Formulation 1 season dwell on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
