McLaren F1 2026 Car Launch today: Start time and how to watch FREE

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F1 2026

McLaren F1 2026 Car Launch today: Start time and how to watch FREE

McLaren are set to unveil their MCL40 on February 9

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Monday 9 February 2026 15:58

McLaren are officially launching their 2026 season TODAY (Monday, February 9), with the MCL40 being unveiled in Bahrain.

The world champions have already taken their new car out onto the track, at the private shakedown in Barcelona last month, where McLaren used a one-off livery as to hide the design that they will be using for the 2026 season.

But as F1 prepares for the first of two official tests in Bahrain ahead of the season getting underway, McLaren will take to the Bahrain International Circuit slightly early in order to present their car to audiences around the world.

With new regulations sweeping into the sport, McLaren are hoping that the MCL40 can help them to once again compete for titles, having achieved their first world championship double since 1998 in 2025, with Brit Lando Norris wrapping up the drivers' title.

When is McLaren's F1 2026 car launch?

McLaren are one of the last teams to unveil their official design for 2026, and they will be launching their season at the Bahrain International Circuit on Monday, February 9 at 3pm GMT.

That's 4pm Central European Time (CET), or 10am Eastern Time, 7am Pacific and 9am Central.

How to watch McLaren F1 car launch live

You can watch McLaren's 2026 season launch right here on GPFans, with the link below set to go live at 3pm GMT on Monday February 9.

Alternatively, you can catch all the action from the car launch on McLaren's social media channels, where they will be posting highlights of the event and, of course, pictures of the newly-released MCL40.

When are the 2026 F1 car launches?

When are the F1 2026 car launches?
Team	Location	Date	How to watch
Red Bull	Detroit, USA	January 15	Red Bull Racing website, YouTube
Racing Bulls	Detroit, USA	January 15	Red Bull Racing website, YouTube
Haas	Online	January 19	Haas F1 website and social pages
Audi	Berlin, Germany	January 20	YouTube, Audi social channels
Ferrari	Maranello, Italy	January 23	YouTube, Ferrari social media pages
Alpine	Barcelona, Spain	January 23	YouTube, Alpine social media pages
Mercedes	Online	February 2	Mercedes social channels
Williams	Grove	February 3	Williams social channels
Cadillac	Santa Clara, USA	February 8	Super Bowl Halftime show & Cadillac F1 socials
Aston Martin	TBC	February 9	Aston Martin's TikTok account
McLaren	Bahrain and Online	February 9	McLaren's YouTube channel

When does the 2026 F1 season start?

The 2026 F1 season gets underway on Friday, March 6, at the Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix.

FP1 will mark the first session of the season at 12:30pm local time (1:30am GMT), while qualifying will get underway on Saturday, March 7 at 4pm local time (5am GMT). Lights out for the first grand prix of the year is at 3pm local time (4am GMT).

Before the F1 season kicks off, two lots of three-day tests will take place in Bahrain. The first of which will occur from Wednesday, February 11 until Friday, February 13. The second of the Bahrain tests takes place Wednesday, February 18 until Friday, February 20.

Written by

Sam Cook - Digital Journalist

Sam Cook is a talented young sports journalist and social media professional who now specialises in Formula 1, having previously worked as a football journalist and a local news reporter for a variety of different brands.

View full biography

F1 McLaren Lando Norris Oscar Piastri 2026 regulations