McLaren MCL40 launch: World champions reveal familiar livery for Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri in 2026 F1 season
McLaren unveil the final look that MCL40 will race in during the 2026 season after darker shakedown livery in Barcelona; watch the 3-4pm hour on each day of the first Bahrain test live from Wednesday on Sky Sports F1 before full coverage of the February 18-20 second test
Monday 9 February 2026 17:23, UK
World champions McLaren have revealed the car livery they will race in when they defend F1's world titles in the 2026 season.
Launching the colour scheme on the MCL40 in Bahrain on the eve of pre-season testing, which starts on Wednesday, McLaren have deliberately stuck with a tried and tested livery formula for an otherwise all-changed challenger for F1's revolutionary new regulation era.
The 2026 car ran in a one-off dark livery during its debut at the Barcelona shakedown last month but the race livery closely resembles the look of the past two seasons, with their now-trademark papaya colour into its ninth campaign back as the team's predominant colour.
- When to watch Bahrain pre-season testing on Sky Sports
- F1 2026: Testing, calendar, line-ups, new regulations, how to watch on Sky Sports
- Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺
- Download the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more📱
"We don't want to change what's been successful," said chief executive Zak Brown.
Britain's Lando Norris defends the Drivers' Championship he won in the final round of last season, with team-mate Oscar Piastri aiming to strike back after a disappointing end to an otherwise career-best third campaign in F1 for the Australian.
"As much as I loved the test livery that we had, this is the one that's always going to be better through the course of the season on TV," said Norris.
"So sticking to what worked."
McLaren expect new car to be 'strong contender'
McLaren, who will be again powered by Mercedes, who are widely expected to have produced the class-leading 2026 engine, are back-to-back constructors' champions but team bosses have stressed all winter that the whole grid starts afresh given the comprehensive nature of the sport's new chassis and power unit regulations.
"I wouldn't bet against our people but this sport is unbelievably competitive and it's going to be a pretty fearsome season this year," added Brown.
While McLaren are aiming to "hit the ground running" with their new car from the start of the season in Australia next month, team boss Andrea Stella ultimately expects the outcome of the first year of the sport's new ruleset to largely be defined by success in the development race.
"Irrespective of the pecking order at the first race, I think the first season will be a game of development and who will have developed the most may be the successful one at the end of this season," he said.
"[Last year] we needed to reflect on the resources that we invested on pursuing the championship and onto the new car. We think we have achieved the right balance, so we are optimistic that the MCL40 will be a strong contender."
Sky Sports F1's Bahrain Testing schedule
Test One: Wednesday 11th, Thursday 12th, Friday 13th February
- 3pm: Final hour of track running Live
- 8pm: Testing Wrap
- 8.30pm: Ted's Testing Notebook
Test Two: Wednesday 18th, Thursday 19th, Friday 20th February
- 6.50am-11.05am: Morning session Live
- 11.55am-4.10pm: Afternoon session Live
- 8pm: Testing Wrap
Watch every race of the 2026 F1 season live on Sky Sports, starting with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime
