Formula 1 Opts Against 2026 Season Launch Event Following 2025 Success
Formula 1 has confirmed that it will not host a collective season launch for the 2026 campaign, according to Motorsport.com. This decision comes after the successful inaugural joint presentation of team liveries at the O2 Arena in London for the 2025 season, which attracted a peak of 1.1 million concurrent viewers on YouTube and a total of 7.5 million across platforms.
The decision was reached after consultations with teams and stakeholders, with the commercial rights holder, Formula One Management (FOM), indicating that the 2025 event was a unique occasion celebrating F1’s 75th anniversary. FOM believes it is prudent to reserve similar large-scale events for significant milestones in the future.
Significantly, the sweeping regulatory changes for 2026 require teams to develop all-new cars and power units. To accommodate this, the 11 participating teams—including the returning Cadillac—will undergo a series of three pre-season tests in Barcelona and Bahrain, an increase from last season’s single test.
The first of these testing sessions is expected to take place behind closed doors in Barcelona at the end of January, which implies a shift in focus for teams as they finalize sponsorships and technical setups.
FOM is exploring the potential of reviving a similar launch event in different key markets worldwide, rather than a repeat in London, to enhance global engagement in the future.
