While McLaren have unveiled the renders of the MCL40 in a testing livery, Red Bull have published the first images of their real 2026 F1 car ahead of the behind-closed-doors Barcelona shakedown.
As F1 undergoes a major regulations reset in 2026, ten teams, apart from Williams, are utilising a shakedown event prior to the two full pre-season tests in Bahrain next month. This private shakedown, which allows a team to only run on three of the five available days, is taking place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, starting on January 26 and ending on January 30.
McLaren’s one-off livery for Barcelona shakedown
For the five-day Barcelona shakedown, McLaren have introduced a special livery that presents the new MCL40 in a black and chrome-coloured design. The renders of the car, which is expected to mount the Woking-based squad’s third consecutive bid for the F1 constructors’ title in 2026, feature a noticeable drooped nose aside from a push-rod layout for the front suspension.
Moreover, the greater presence of Mastercard is visible across the testing livery as McLaren enter 2026 with the global payment network company becoming their official naming partner.
McLaren’s unchanged line-up of reigning drivers’ champion Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will make their 2026 debuts on the track in Barcelona between January 26 and 30, sporting the unique livery.
However, team principal Andrea Stella has confirmed that the British outfit will not put their latest challenger through its paces until day two or three of the shakedown in order to maximise the time available to continue development.
Unlike the majority of the teams in 2026, McLaren have yet to take to the track on a filming or shakedown day. Following their use of the one-off testing livery in Barcelona, the current world champions will hold their official car launch on February 9. The event will take place online through a broadcast from the Bahrain International Circuit.
Red Bull lift the covers off their real 2026 F1 car
Red Bull have uncloaked the RB22, their F1 challenger for the 2026 campaign, on the eve of the pre-season shakedown in Barcelona. Unfortunately, lighting or limited angles conceal many of the finer details in the series of skilfully stylised renders the team has shared online.
The Milton Keynes outfit held a season launch on January 15 with their satellite squad Racing Bulls, where they showcased their 2026 livery on a showcar. While the event took place in Detroit, Michigan, where Red Bull’s new power unit partner Ford is based, the actual machinery was still under wraps.
Red Bull Ford’s DM01 engine, which pays tribute to late Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz, will power the RB22 as it makes its on-track debut as early as Monday. It will find behind its wheel four-time world champion Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar, whose stellar rookie season earned him a promotion from Racing Bulls to the senior team.
