The Formula 1 teams wished their fans a happy 2026 through their social media channels, sharing messages of optimism and anticipation for the new year. Once again, however, Valtteri Bottas stood out from the rest, confirming his reputation for sharp self-irony and memorable content.
Here comes 2026, Formula 1’s New Year wishes
The year 2026 has been firmly in the sights of Formula 1 teams and drivers for many months now. Some see it as a chance for redemption after a disappointing 2025 season, others view it as an opportunity to return to winning ways after years without success, while several outfits aim to confirm their status even in the face of entirely new challenges.
Now, with the arrival of the new year just hours away, 2026 is finally becoming reality. The teams and drivers have therefore taken the opportunity to send their best wishes to fans for a season that already promises to be revolutionary, especially considering the scale of the regulatory changes introduced over the winter.
If Ferrari is already thinking in terms of a countdown, both towards 2026 itself and towards the new season that will begin with late-January testing in Barcelona, Mercedes opted for a more formal approach, wishing everyone “Happy holidays and a wonderful New Year.”
Red Bull chose a more nostalgic route, going vintage by resurfacing a New Year message from 2019 featuring Max Verstappen and Alex Albon, offering fans a reminder of the team’s past while looking ahead to the future.
Williams, on the other hand, entrusted its wishes to the confirmed driver pairing of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon. Their message already sounded like a challenge to the competition, as they declared: “Enjoy 2026, because we will.”
Once again, however, it was Valtteri Bottas who truly caught everyone’s attention. With a video clip designed as a tribute to the United States—where the Finnish driver will race with the newcomer Cadillac team—the former Mercedes driver once again showcased his trademark self-irony. Appearing in a swimsuit, Bottas left little to the imagination, even placing a bald eagle in a position that spoke for itself and ensured his New Year greeting would not go unnoticed.
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