The McLaren Formula 1 team will reveal its 2026 livery during a special event in Bahrain on February 9. The launch precedes pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit. Drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will attend alongside team leaders.
The McLaren Formula 1 team is set to unveil its 2026 livery on Monday, February 9, 2026, at an event in Bahrain. Scheduled for 18:00 local time (15:00 GMT), the launch will take place two days before the first pre-season testing sessions at the Bahrain International Circuit, running from February 11-13 and February 18-20.
Fans can watch the event live on McLaren's official YouTube channel. Attendees include drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, and team principal Andrea Stella.
This launch follows a private testing shakedown in Barcelona from January 26-30, 2026, where McLaren joined most teams except Williams. After the final day, Norris reflected on the experience: “Today was a valuable day of learning, and it felt great to be back in the car. I’m grateful to the entire team for their hard work and support. It’s a pleasure to drive another McLaren this year, and running the No.1 for the first time was a special moment for all of us throughout the Shakedown.” He added that the team identified areas for improvement and looks forward to simulator work in Woking before Bahrain, noting the cars require “a new way of thinking and driving.”
Piastri described the day as smoother: “Today was a much smoother day than our first two. It was good to get a solid number of laps on the board and settle into a rhythm. I’m starting to feel what the car is really like, and we’ve already tried a variety of configurations and settings to understand how it behaves for a race weekend.” He highlighted ongoing work with HPP on the power unit, differences in chassis downforce from last year, and feeling well-prepared for Bahrain testing, with no major surprises in driving style.
The shakedown provided initial insights into the 2026 regulations, focusing on understanding and improving the car ahead of the season.
