The opening day of Formula 1‘s Bahrain pre-season testing revealed all 2026 F1 cars and liveries together for the first time ahead of Australian Grand Prix season opener on March 8.
Most teams have unveiled striking new colours that blend tradition with innovation, signaling bold ambitions amid the grid’s expansion to 11 outfits including newcomers Audi and Cadillac.
Here’s how every car and livery looks as 2026 Bahrain F1 pre-season testing kicks off:
Red Bull RB22
Red Bull Racing kicked off the 2026 livery reveals at a high-profile event in Detroit, unveiling a refreshed glossy blue color scheme on their RB22 after years of matte finishes.
The iconic red bull logo remains prominent but the design incorporates deeper blues and silvers to echo their new in-house Red Bull Powertrains engine developed in partnership with Ford.
Sleek contours trace Red Bull RB22‘s narrower chassis, with red accents popping against a matte navy base, signaling Max Verstappen’s title ambitions in the new era.
Racing Bulls VCARB03
Racing Bulls unveiled their VCARB03 livery at the same Detroit event, sticking to a crisp, matt-white base from 2025 but now features sleek blue accents tracing the chassis contours.
The blue streaks serve as a subtle nod to the Ford partnership, complemented by sharp black detailing that sharpens the overall assertive edge on the engine cover and sidepods.
Ferrari SF-26
The new Ferrari SF-26 made its debut at Fiorano in wet conditions driven by Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, showcasing a glossy red livery brighter and more intense than recent iterations, paired with expanded white around the cockpit and engine cover for strong visual contrast.
The iconic rosso scheme, a staple of Scuderia heritage, returns to gloss after seven years, making the car instantly recognizable amid the 2026 field’s diversity.
Mercedes W17
Mercedes provided first glimpses of the W17’s striking black-and-silver livery, retaining the teal accents from Petronas sponsorship alongside a dominant black base ideal for the sleeker 2026 silhouette.
The black aesthetic dominates the rear with silver stripes and turquoise accents gleaming through the sidepods to the nose, positioning the Silver Arrows for a resurgence after four winless years.
Alpine A526
Alpine‘s A526 sticks to blue-and-pink despite finishing last year, unveiled on a Barcelona cruise ship with Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto at the helm.
Flavio Briatore’s optimism shines through this familiar palette, focused on 2026 development under the team’s new engine supplier Mercedes.
Williams FW48
Williams unveiled the FW48’s glossy blue on February 3, featuring white on engine cover/wings and Barclays’ lighter blue on sidepods to signal a “bold intent” for the new season after finishing fifth in 2025.
After skipping Barcelona shakedown due to development issues, the new Williams FW48 challenger made its track debut in Bahrain with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz at the wheel.
Haas VF-26
Haas stole the show by revealing digital images of their actual VF-26 car on January 19, the first team to do so, featuring a white-heavy livery with vibrant red accents honoring new title sponsor Toyota Gazoo Racing.
This design draws direct inspiration from Toyota’s 2000s F1 era, amplifying red and white while slashing carbon fiber exposure for a clean, race-winning vibe that topped fan polls.
McLaren MCL40
McLaren carried their 2025 championship-winning papaya livery forward to the MCL40, unveiled in Bahrain with anthracite undertones and subtle teal hints, maintaining tradition after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s triumphs.
The new McLaren MCL40 initially sported a stealth black colour design for Barcelona shakedown but the official reveal emphasized aero-balanced creativity, with papaya dominating the fire suits and chassis for a striking, performance-first vibe.
Aston Martin AMR26
Aston Martin, the last team to reveal its new colours, presented the AMR26’s matte satin racing green at a Saudi Arabia event, refining their scheme on a showcar after a carbon-exposed Barcelona test due to painting delays.
Team principal Adrian Newey praised the look as the final touch for Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll’s mount, aligning their 2026 reset ambitions with new engine partnership with Honda.
Audi R26
Audi‘s inaugural F1 foray after taking over Sauber dazzled at a Berlin event on January 20 with the R26’s silver-and-red scheme, a bold statement for their Formula 1 debut.
The menacing silver base evokes Audi’s rally heritage, paired with lava-red secondary accents and iconic four rings that inject identity for the “most striking” car on the grid.
Cadillac
Cadillac’s Super Bowl LX reveal on February 9 introduced a split-sided black-white livery for their Formula 1 debut, driven by Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.
Uniquely creative, one side white-dominant, the other black, it risks mediocrity but nails entrance drama on their yet-to-be-named car.
READ MORE:
2026 Bahrain F1 pre-season test week 1 schedule: Driver line-ups, start times, how to watch
