After putting on a spectacular one-time show to kick off its 75th anniversary, Formula One has decided to hit the brakes on that idea going forward.
Despite the buzz it generated earlier this year, the organization behind the scenes isn’t planning to bring back the flashy event for the 2026 season.
So, what happened?
A Dazzling One-Time Celebration
Back in February, Formula One celebrated its Diamond Anniversary in true style.
The O2 Arena in London played host to a sold-out launch event for the 2025 season, where all 10 teams unveiled their new car liveries.
The night drew millions of viewers online and aimed to honor the sport’s 75-year journey since it first began in 1950.
It was, by all accounts, a spectacle.
Why It Won’t Happen Again Next Year
Despite the success, F1’s commercial rights holders, Formula One Management (FOM), have decided not to make the season launch event a recurring tradition.
According to Autosport, the original intent behind the show was to mark a special occasion — the 75th anniversary — and not to create an annual fixture.
There’s also the matter of timing.
The 2026 season will introduce major regulation changes, with teams required to debut brand-new cars and power units.
The added pressure of adapting to these technical shifts makes hosting a glitzy launch event an extra burden for already stretched teams.
Big Changes and Bigger Unknowns
Another twist for 2026 is the highly anticipated arrival of Cadillac as a new team.
Integrating a new manufacturer comes with logistical and branding challenges, and teams will also be in the middle of locking down new sponsors for their overhauled setups.
FOM likely saw this as one more reason to keep the focus on the track — not the stage.
Drama at the 2025 Launch Didn’t Help
It’s also worth noting that the 2025 event had its fair share of controversy.
Red Bull was met with boos from the crowd, particularly when team boss Christian Horner stepped onto the stage alone for his speech.
Clips of the frosty reception quickly went viral, and Horner did his best to carry on in spite of the heckling.
Things didn’t get any easier when comedian Jack Whitehall, the evening’s host, made a cheeky remark, calling Horner “Geri Halliwell’s plus one” — even with the former Spice Girl sitting right there in the audience.
Verstappen and the FIA Also Felt the Chill
World champion Max Verstappen wasn’t spared either.
Fans jeered as he took the stage, possibly fueled by tension around Lewis Hamilton’s high-profile move from Mercedes to Ferrari — a switch that reportedly comes with a £50 million price tag.
Verstappen commented that Hamilton seemed “reborn” after leaving the team he’d spent years with.
Even the FIA, F1’s governing body, wasn’t immune.
Fans took issue with several of their recent decisions, especially the rumored introduction of a “no swearing” rule for next season — something many felt was tone-deaf and overly strict.
So, What’s Next for F1 in 2026?
With sweeping changes coming to car design, new players entering the mix, and teams focused on adapting to a brand-new era of regulations, it makes sense that FOM is hitting pause on the entertainment side of things.
The focus in 2026 will be on innovation and performance — not pyrotechnics and celebrity cameos.
As for whether the launch event might return in the future? That remains to be seen.
For now, it looks like Formula One will stick to doing what it does best: racing.