Haas has change into the newest workforce to shake down its 2026 Components 1 automobile, because the grid makes their remaining preparations for the primary official take a look at beneath the brand new rules.
F1 sophomore Oliver Bearman turned the primary laps within the Haas VF-26 at Ferrari’s Fiorano circuit on Saturday, operating Pirelli’s particular demonstration tyres as a part of the workforce’s filming allocation.
In a brief social media publish, the American outfit shared a picture of Bearman exiting the storage at Fiorano with the caption, ‘The VF-26 is alive’.
The shakedown additionally marked the primary time Haas revealed actual photos of its 2026 contender, having beforehand proven solely digital renders of the automobiles throughout a web-based launch on 19 January.
Haas’ run adopted only a day after Ferrari took the SF-26 to the identical venue on Friday for a ‘demonstration occasion’, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc splitting the operating between them.
Haas has an extended partnership with Ferrari in F1 and it’ll proceed to run the Italian producer’s engines this 12 months, when the brand new rule cycle mandates a close to 50/50 cut up between energy generated by the inner combustion system and the hybrid unit.
Nevertheless, 2026 can be vital for Haas in one other approach, because it expanded its partnership with Toyota, which has now change into its title sponsor. The VF-26 pushed by Bearman at Fiorano carried vital branding from Toyota Gazoo Racing on the entrance wing and the engine cowl.
With the shakedown full, seven of the 11 groups on the grid have run their 2026 automobiles in some type: Audi, Cadillac, Alpine, Mercedes, Racing Bulls, Ferrari and now Haas.
Solely Williams, Pink Bull, Aston Martin and reigning champion McLaren are nonetheless to hold out their first on-track outings of the 12 months.
Of these, Williams seems to be the furthest not on time, having already introduced it is not going to participate within the Barcelona take a look at week.
Barring every other unexpected circumstances, the remaining 10 groups are anticipated to journey to Spain for the Barcelona take a look at from 26-30 January. Whereas the monitor is booked for 5 days, every workforce can solely choose three days to run their 2026 automobiles.
Haas has already indicated that the specification it brings to Barcelona is not going to be equivalent to the one it races on the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March, pointing to an aggressive early growth programme for the VF-26.
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