Haas officially launched its 2026 Formula 1 livery today, unveiling the first digital look at the VF-26 and confirming continuity at the heart of its long-term strategy.
As it has since entering F1 in 2016, Haas will continue to use Ferrari power units under a technical partnership now extended through the end of the 2028 season.
While today’s reveal marks Haas’ first step into the new regulations, team principal Ayao Komatsu cautioned that the car on display is far from the finished product. The VF-26 will evolve significantly before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 8.
“The car everyone sees in Barcelona won’t be the car that races in Australia,” Komatsu said. “With more than a month before the first race, development won’t stop.”
Komatsu added that even early testing in Bahrain will feature less mature cars than those that eventually line up on the grid, as teams continue development deep into the preseason.
Haas’ early focus will be mastering F1’s new 2026 hybrid power units. With regulations targeting a 50/50 split between combustion engine and electrical power, energy management is expected to be a critical performance factor.
“Energy management is the biggest challenge,” Komatsu said. “We don’t yet know the full extent of it.”
On the aerodynamic side, Komatsu said Haas is encouraged by its progress but remains cautious, noting that testing could reveal rival concepts requiring a rapid response.
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Haas’ 2026 era may have begun today — but the real work, Komatsu emphasized, is only just beginning.
Images: Haas & F1 Media
