F1 news: Haas unveils the VF-26 for the 2026 season

Last week Red Bull and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls shared their looks for the 2026 Formula 1 season, at a live launch event in Detroit to kick off their new power unit partnership with Ford.

Today, TGR Haas F1 Team was the third team to share their look for the upcoming season, but they went a step further, sharing digital renders not just of their livery for next season, but also the VF-26 itself. F1 enters a new era this year with a sweeping set of new technical regulations aimed at making the cars smaller and lighter.

Haas launched the VF-26 with this video on social media Monday morning:

These images also followed from the team:

From a livery standpoint, the design mirrors what we have seen from Haas in recent seasons: An emphasis on white as the main color scheme, with black and red elements along the sidepods and wings. Title partner Toyota Gazoo Racing — the TGR in the team’s name — is also displayed as well, including along the front wing and the fin on the engine cover.

But it is that fin on the engine cover that stands out as one of the new technical elements of the VF-26, when compared to last year’s challenger. Here is the VF-25 from a year ago:

And here is a closer look at the VF-26, showing the much-larger fin on the engine cover (along with the TGR branding):

Other differences include the smaller front wing, a change from the “overbite” sidepot inlet to a more neutral layout, and the exit ducts along the top of the sidepod.

Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu called the moment “surreal” in a media package shared with SB Nation.

”It feels almost a bit surreal to be unveiling a new car this early in the year but it’s not any less exciting venturing into a new F1 campaign - especially one with such a change in regulations,” said Komatsu.

He also said this was the “toughest” off-season for the team yet.

“I would say so, especially for our size,” added Komatsu. “The new regulations mean it’s financially challenging
and regarding resources, everyone knows we’re still the smallest team. It’s a huge challenge, and as Team Principal, the responsibility is bigger, ensuring that this team is equipped to tackle this massive regulation change. I don’t think any team, even the biggest, is going to say they’re fully equipped to tackle this, however for us, the challenge is bigger.

“We need to focus on what we’ve got, what we’re good at, recognize our weaknesses but play to our strengths, and continue learning. We’ve got to learn pretty fast with these new regulations. There will be surprises once everyone is up and running, for sure, and it’s going to be about sticking together, reacting, and adapting as quickly as possible.”

We will see the VF-26, along with the rest of the new challengers, in action next month. With the incoming regulations F1 is holding three separate pre-season testing sessions, first a closed-door session at the end of January and then two more sessions in Bahrain from February 11-13, and 18-20.

Haas finished eighth in the Constructors’ Championship a season ago.