McLaren’s established championship-winning livery will grace the Formula 1 grid once more for the 2026 season. The iconic papaya and anthracite colour scheme, a familiar sight as it has adorned the team’s cars since their constructors’ championship victory in 2024, will continue its reign. McLaren, based in Woking, England, has enjoyed a dominant run, securing the last two constructors’ championships. This success was capped off last season when Lando Norris clinched his maiden drivers’ championship, marking a significant milestone for the team.
The team unveiled the livery for their 2026 challenger, dubbed the MCL40, in Bahrain. This reveal took place ahead of a promotional filming day and two crucial pre-season testing sessions scheduled for later this month. For Australian talent Oscar Piastri, the 2026 season presents a fresh opportunity after a nail-biting near miss for the drivers’ championship in 2025. Piastri had a stellar 2025 campaign, securing seven Grand Prix victories and leading the championship standings for a substantial portion of the year. However, a dip in form during the latter part of the season allowed his teammate, Norris, to ultimately seize the title.
A New Era of F1 Regulations
The 2026 season heralds a significant shift for all teams and drivers, with substantial overhauls to both engine and chassis regulations. These changes represent some of the most profound regulatory shifts in Formula 1 history, promising to shake up the established order and introduce new competitive dynamics.
Driver Perspectives on the 2026 Season
Oscar Piastri expressed his confidence heading into the new season, stating in a release following the MCL40 livery launch:
“We’ve got a big challenge ahead with the new regulations, but I come into this year with a lot of positivity and ready to tackle this new era of Formula 1 head on. We’ve taken a lot of good learnings from last year, so I am feeling stronger than ever, and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve this year.”
Lando Norris will proudly carry the coveted number one on his MCL40 throughout the 2026 season, a privilege reserved for the reigning drivers’ champion. Norris’s victory last season made him the first McLaren driver since Lewis Hamilton in 2008 to achieve this prestigious title. He secured the championship with a strong third-place finish in the dramatic season finale in Abu Dhabi.
The honour of racing with the number one also marks a significant moment for Norris, as he becomes the first McLaren driver to do so since Jenson Button in 2010. Button, who raced for McLaren after his 2009 drivers’ championship win with Brawn GP, is a celebrated figure in the sport.
As the defending champion, Norris conveyed his anticipation and excitement for the upcoming 2026 campaign:
“To win the Championship with the team I’ve been with since the beginning was incredible. We’re coming into this year as World Champions, and I’m excited to see what we can achieve in this new era of Formula 1. I’m ready for this year, and I can’t wait to get back on track and keep pushing forward.”
Key Dates for the 2026 Season
The pre-season preparations will kick off with the first of two testing sessions in Bahrain, running from February 11th to 14th. Following these crucial shakedown days, the 2026 Formula 1 season will officially commence with the highly anticipated Australian Grand Prix weekend in Melbourne, scheduled from March 6th to 8th. This opening race is expected to provide the first real glimpse of how the new regulations will impact performance across the grid.
