F1 2025 confirmed car launch dates and pre-season test schedule

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After a thrilling end to 2024, Formula 1 returns in 2025 with Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes all vying for glory.

There’s plenty of new driver line-ups with Sir Lewis Hamilton set to make his much-anticipated Ferrari debut, while Lando Norris will be on a quest to prevent Max Verstappen from winning a joint-record fifth-consecutive title.

But before the racing gets underway, there’s the small matter of pre-season testing and the car launches which are set to take place next month.

Here’s all the important information and dates you need to know about F1 pre-season:

When is the F1 2025 launch show?

For the first time ever, they’ll be special F1 launch event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the sport.

F1 75 is set to take place on February 18, from 8pm and will be held at the O2 Arena in London. The event will also be streamed live.

All 20 drivers and 10 team principals will be in attendance to officially kick-off the new season and reveal the 2025 cars and liveries.

Confirmed F1 car launches

In addition to F1 75, several teams plan to have their own traditional car launches.

So far, only two – Ferrari and Williams – have confirmed the dates for their launches:

What is the difference between a livery launch and a car launch?

It is said that most teams will attend F1 75 not with their new cars but instead their 2024 machines which will be repainted with their brand new liveries.

This is nothing new as previous car launches have often featured an old car with the new livery if teams are not ready or not willing to show off their latest creation.

Williams have already confirmed that the new FW47 will be presented at their car launch at Silverstone in a one-off livery, before it’s official 2025 colours are revealed at F1 75.

Pre-season testing often provides the best and first proper look at all the new cars and whatever technical innovations their engineers have come up with.

F1 2025 pre-season dates and how to watch on TV

F1 pre-season testing will be held at the Bahrain International Circuit from February 26-28.

Each driver will get one-and-a-half days worth of running and the whole test is set to be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

The 2025 F1 season then gets underway on the weekend of March 14-16 with the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, Melbourne.

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