Ecco la MCL40 in livrea test:

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WHAT IS THIS WEEK’S F1 SHAKEDOWN IN SPAIN, AND WHY ARE McLARENMASTERCARD RUNNING A ONE-OFF LIVERY?

F1 returns this week with a five-day Shakedown in Spain: Here’s what to expect

Formula 1’s off-season may have been shorter than ever, but it still feels like we’ve been waiting far too long for its return. Finally, the new era is nearly here, and this week in Spain, the next-generation cars will hit the track for the first time, ahead of the season opener in Australia from 6-8 March.

But this year’s pre-season isn’t quite what we’ve come to expect. The calendar has expanded to include an official private Shakedown and two full Pre-Season Tests, while Lando and Oscar will take to the track in a bold black-and-chrome McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 car, replacing our usual papaya-coloured challenger.

So, what exactly is a Shakedown? How does it differ from Pre-Season Testing? And where’s all the papaya gone?

Hang on, doesn’t pre-season usually start in February?

Normally, yes, but as Formula 1 prepares for a major regulations reset introducing smaller, lighter cars, brand-new power units, and advanced sustainable fuels, testing has been increased to give everyone more time to properly assess their revamped machinery.

For 2026, teams will have two pre-season tests in Bahrain, on 11-13 February and 18-20 February, following a Shakedown in Barcelona, giving us all nine days of track time, compared to the three we normally get.

With so many days of testing to be completed, and the 2026 season beginning on 6-8 March, F1 opted to run the Shakedown as early as January. Held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the Shakedown in Spain will be a private F1 event, closed to the media and fans, allowing us to run our new car for the first time.

The event will take place over five days, with teams permitted to run on three of them, enabling each to choose the days that best suit their testing objectives, when they want to run, and the expected weather conditions. Last week, Team Principal Andrea Stella confirmed that the team wouldn’t run until at least day two, to give themselves “as much time as possible for development”.

What is the difference between Shakedown and the two Pre-Season Tests?

A Shakedown refers to the first time a team runs a new car. It’s essentially a pre-season health check where teams can run the rule over their cars and confirm they function correctly. Normally limited to 200km and held separately, these sessions will, in 2026, be extended by three days with the introduction of an official all-team Shakedown in Spain.

The 2026 cars are an unknown quantity, totally new and unproven in real-world conditions, so these days are crucial for identifying any issues and ensuring the cars can run safely.

During this time, we’ll look to detect any leaks, wiring issues, or software problems, identify gremlins with the electronics and hydraulics, and simply make sure that all the parts fit correctly and do their jobs when the car is out on track. We’ll also be working closely with the Mercedes-AMG High Performance Power Trains team to ensure the engine runs as it should. It’s much more operational than performance-focused, saving everyone time when the proper running starts in Bahrain.

Of course, that doesn’t mean teams won’t attempt any performance runs, but it won’t be the priority for anyone at this stage.

Are there any benefits for drivers?

These cars are new for everyone, and while Lando and Oscar will have driven our 2026 challenger in the simulator, physically taking it around a track is an entirely different proposition. These tests provide crucial early mileage, allowing drivers to get comfortable behind the wheel, learn the basics of driving the cars, and build trust in the new machinery.

They can also lock in a baseline setup and deliver vital early feedback to the team, enabling any required changes to be made before pre-season testing and the opening round of the season.

Is this the McLaren livery for the 2026 Formula 1 season?

A McLaren livery without papaya? No, no, no. This design is a one-off, created for a specific purpose, and will only be used this week in Spain.

With this week’s Shakedown taking place ahead of our official season launch on 9 February, it means we won’t have revealed the livery design of our 2026 challenger when we hit the track in Barcelona.

To avoid spoiling the surprise, we’ll be running a one-off black and chrome-coloured design, emblazoned with 2026 across the engine cover and sidepods, allowing us to show off the MCL40, without revealing our new look before we’re ready to unveil it in Bahrain.

While the testing livery itself is only temporary, it offers a first look at something new that will carry over to our 2026 season design, with Lando debuting the No.1 on his car for the first time following his 2025 Drivers’ World Championship triumph.

The Shakedown will also mark the first time we’ve hit the track as the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team, following the announcement in August 2025 that they would become our Official Naming Partner.

Why not just use last year’s design?

Running an old design wouldn’t have felt right as F1 embarks on a new era, and it wouldn’t have been very McLaren to send out a car without a livery.

While our testing livery doesn’t look the same as the design we’ll be running in 2026, the two do share many physical similarities. Our Brand Creative team worked closely with the Vehicle Design and Aerodynamic teams to create a design that allows us to assess the car in its fully liveried form during these early running days.

This includes understanding the impact of a new FIA regulation mandating that at least 55% of the car be covered. By running a representative livery, we can evaluate the durability of the vinyl wrap in areas that were previously uncovered and are particularly sensitive to heat.

The design also introduces several new partners, alongside a refreshed look for our Google Gemini–branded wheel hubs.

Can I watch this week’s Shakedown in Spain?

Unfortunately, not. This week’s Shakedown in Barcelona is being held behind closed doors with no broadcasters or media present, but you will be able to keep up with the action via the official McLaren Racing website, app and social media channels, where we’ll be following Lando and Oscar’s progress and publishing daily test reports.

What’s next?

We’ll officially launch the 2026 McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 car online on Monday, 9 February at 15:00 GMT (10:00 EST/01:00 AEST) in Bahrain ahead of two official Pre-Season Tests, on 11-13 February and 18-20 February.

Via McLaren.

3 ore fa, Osv scrive:

Ecco la MCL40 in livrea test:

Comunicato stampa

Via McLaren.

ha delle ali per quanto sono sottili al posto dei side pods... la vedo molto spinta, io li metto tra i favoriti dato che pure loro hanno il motore mercedes...

Dopo questi primi due giorni di test sono moderatamente ottimista per la stagione del cavallino.

Inoltre ieri la faccia di Leclerc dopo le prove era questa:

Anche se per gli scommettitori inglesi il campionato se lo giocano Max e Russel con le Ferrari p7 e p8 dietro a tutti praticamente anche ad Alonso

il facciometro vale più della telemeteria con Leclerc.... è un dato di fatto.

Io spero sempre che partoriscano (prima o poi) una F-2004 mk2, ma vi ripeto, non facciamoci illusioni.......

1 ora fa, Alain scrive:

Anche se per gli scommettitori inglesi il campionato se lo giocano Max e Russel con le Ferrari p7 e p8 dietro a tutti praticamente anche ad Alonso

Almeno non ci hanno messo dietro anche a Stroll.........

Presentata la Williams FW48:

OT - No livrea

FB

La livrea della Cadillac presentata questa notte al Superbowl:

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CADILLAC FORMULA 1® TEAM REVEALS HISTORIC FIRST LIVERY

February 8, 2026 – Indianapolis, Indiana and Silverstone, UK – The Cadillac Formula 1® Team today unveiled the livery of its maiden Formula 1® challenger, marking a defining milestone in the team’s journey to the world’s most elite motorsport championship. The striking white and black scheme will be used by the American squad throughout 2026, when it makes its much-anticipated debut in Formula 1® as the sport’s 11th team.

The livery was unveiled to a global audience through a national TV advertising spot during Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. With an expected audience of over 130 million viewers, the Super Bowl is one of the most popular events on the planet, driving conversations at the intersection of sport, culture, and entertainment. That makes it a perfect opportunity for the team – which represents a striking new chapter in American participation in Formula 1® – to launch onto the world stage ahead of its Grand Prix debut in Melbourne, Australia (March 6-8).

Shortly after the ad appeared on TV, a replica of the first Cadillac Formula 1® Team car was unveiled in dynamic fashion in Times Square, the busiest destination in the United States, giving fans a front-row view of the color scheme.

The Cadillac Formula 1® Team car is dual color, with one black side and one white side. The design gradient, which evokes speed when the car is stationary, is actually a Cadillac chevron repeating: a subtle nod to the co-ownership of General Motors and the iconic Cadillac symbol. Drawing on cinematic craft and musical restraint, the livery reveal film is directed by Sam Piling, whose work is known for turning simple ideas into visceral, high-impact visual statements, and scored by Max Richter, one of the world’s most influential contemporary composers. The livery uses asymmetry as a deliberate design philosophy: a yin-and-yang balance expressed through stark black and white, where grit, determination, and performance meet aspiration, optimism and ambition.

“This livery represents far more than a paint scheme; it represents who we are and what we bring to Formula 1,’’ said Dan Towriss, CEO of Cadillac Formula 1 Team Holdings. “Every detail is intentional: bold, modern, and unmistakably American, while respecting the heritage and precision that define this sport. Choosing to reveal our first race livery during the Super Bowl and in the heart of Times Square is a way to introduce our identity to the world at the intersection of performance, culture, and entertainment, and to connect with fans in places far beyond the paddock.’’

“Unveiling our official race livery is a huge milestone in a journey that started years ago — earning our place on the grid, assembling a world‑class team, and developing a race car worthy of Formula 1,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “The momentum is building toward Melbourne and our Grand Prix debut. For GM, this race car showcases the American innovation, spirit, and pride we want to bring to the global stage of F1.”

The team will compete at the pinnacle of motorsport over 24 races in 2026, visiting the world’s most iconic and historic racetracks, including three venues on American soil: the Miami International Autodrome (May 1-3), the Circuit of The Americas in Austin (Oct. 23-25) and the Las Vegas Strip Circuit (November 20-22).

Graeme Lowdon, Team Principal of the Cadillac Formula 1® Team, added: “I’m incredibly proud to reveal the colors of our 2026 Formula 1 challenger. We are a team built on bold ambition and leadership in innovation, values which we exhibited today by tapping into one of the most culturally significant sporting events in the world in a manner that has never been done by a Formula 1 team before.”

The team, which has bases in Indianapolis, Indiana (USA), Charlotte, North Carolina (USA), and Silverstone, Northamptonshire (UK), has been built from the ground up. Established in partnership between TWG Motorsports, the motorsport arm of TWG Global, and General Motors (GM), it aims to bring together a legacy of engineering excellence and a shared commitment to innovation and performance. Both TWG and GM provide valuable technical, operational, and commercial support, know-how, and infrastructure to the Cadillac Formula 1® Team.

On track, Checo Pérez and Valtteri Bottas will lead the team as its first Grand Prix drivers. The pair, who hail from Guadalajara, Mexico, and Nastola, Finland, respectively, boast 526 starts, 106 podium finishes, and 16 victories, making them one of the most experienced and successful driver pairings on the grid. The 2026 driver lineup also includes former Ferrari and Sauber driver, Zhou Guanyu, who will serve as Reserve Driver, and nine-time NNT INDYCAR SERIES race winner Colton Herta, who will be the team’s Test Driver – duties for which he will balance with a seat in Formula 2, the final step on the FIA’s single-seater ladder before Formula 1®, with Hitech TGR.

Via Cadillac.

Speravo in una livrea molto più colorata ripresa un po' da quella che usavano nell'endurance.

Così sembra la McLaren del periodo "West"

Modificato Lunedì alle 06:303 gg. fa da Albe89

E' un po' "semplice" ma a me piace. Ci sta dai.