McLaren has officially confirmed the launch date of their 2026 Formula 1 challenger, ahead of the groundbreaking season.
The defending Constructors Champions became the last team to announce their launch date for the upcoming season.
McLaren has booked the anticipated reveal for February 9th in Bahrain. The unnamed challenger will be launched two days before the first of two pre-season tests at Bahrain International Circuit.
It is expected that the car will be presented by the driver line-up of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, as the pair fights for yet another team’s and individual title.
Alongside them, Andrea Stella and Zak Brown are expected to join the pair in launching their new 2026 campaign.
McLaren enters 2026 carrying significant momentum after two years of success. The team secured back-to-back Constructors’ Championships in 2024 and 2025.
The British marque finished a staggering 364 points clear of Mercedes, its nearest challenger, last season, showcasing one of F1’s most dominant Constructors’ performances.
Norris, who became the eleventh British Champion in F1 history, will be aiming to fight for back-to-back titles in 2026, as McLaren looks to keep their place at the top of the pecking order under the the sport’s new technical regulations.
Team-mate Piastri, who finished 13 points behind Norris, will be aiming for redemption following a frustrating second half of 2025.
F1 2026 confirmed launch dates
McLaren’s announcement has finalised all teams’ car launches for the upcoming season.
Racing Bulls and Red Bull will celebrate their new partnership with Ford with a joint reveal next week.
McLaren’s February 9 launch date also coincides with Aston Martin’s reveal of its first car designed by Adrian Newey, adding further intrigue to an already highly anticipated week in the build-up to the new season.
Official dates for Teams’ 2026 F1 car launches
Red Bull & Racing Bulls – 15 January 2026
Haas – 19 January 2026
Audi – 20 January 2026
Mercedes – 22 January 2026
Alpine & Ferrari – 23 January 2026
Williams – 3 February 2026
Cadillac – 8 February 2026
Aston Martin & McLaren – 9 February 2026
READ MORE – Ex-F1 star offers ‘no sympathy’ to Oscar Piastri for 2025 title defeat
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