The elections for the most beautiful and technically most interesting F1 car for the 2026 season have concluded. Readers in both polls most often voted for the Ferrari SF-26.
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I have been organizing similar polls on the blog since 2018. Ferrari has a lot of experience in winning. In 2025, their car won in both polls, and in 2024 in the appearance poll.
The most beautiful car of 2026 according to CyrkF1 blog readers
In the poll for the most beautiful car of the 2026 season, 1 578 votes were cast. The most beautiful car was chosen, meaning attention should be paid mainly to the livery pattern or general shapes. This year’s voting was very close, proceeding quite differently than last year. In 2025, the cars of the Ferrari, Mercedes, and Racing Bulls teams won a total of 82% of the votes, while the fourth-placed Alpine had only 6% of the votes. In this year’s vote, the Ferrari SF-26 won with 24% of the votes. Ferrari led from the beginning, but in the final phase of voting, its lead decreased. In second place was the Mercedes F1 W17 – 13% of the votes, and in third position the Audi R26 – 12% of the votes.
It is worth noting that Haas VF-26 took fifth place. In the four previous years, this team’s cars in similar rankings occupied the last places, gaining very few votes. This year’s changes in appearance were well-received. Just behind Haas was the F1-debuting Cadillac team with the new MAC-26 car. In last place, with just under one percent of the votes, was the Alpine A526 car. You can see the full poll results below.
The most beautiful F1 car prepared for the 2026 season:
- Ferrari SF-26 (24%, 384 Votes)
- Mercedes F1 W17 (13%, 205 Votes)
- Audi R26 (12%, 187 Votes)
- Red Bull RB22 (12%, 186 Votes)
- Haas VF-26 (8%, 132 Votes)
- Cadillac MAC-26 (8%, 121 Votes)
- Williams FW48 (7%, 111 Votes)
- Aston Martin AMR26 (6%, 87 Votes)
- Racing Bulls VCARB 03 (5%, 75 Votes)
- McLaren MCL40 (4%, 67 Votes)
- Alpine A526 (1%, 23 Votes)
Total Voters: 1 578
The technically most interesting F1 car of 2026 according to readers
In the poll for the technically most interesting car of the 2026 season, 1 395 votes were cast. This poll always enjoys less interest than the first one, which is understandable because it is harder to pick a favorite. The results are identical to 2025. In both cases, the Ferrari car won, obtaining a huge advantage and 53% of the votes. Last year it was my fault because I didn’t apply a limit quickly and someone (or a certain group of people) gave the Ferrari car a lot of votes in the first hours of the poll. This time it proceeded more calmly and predictably. The Ferrari SF-26 gained a huge advantage, followed by Aston Martin AMR26, which gained 17% of the votes, and third place was taken by Mercedes F1 W17 – 14% of the votes. In fourth position was Audi R26, which won 6% of the votes. This year’s Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Audi cars have many innovations at first glance, so I’m not surprised they are at the top.
You can see the full poll results below. Below them is a photo gallery showing the Ferrari SF-26.
Read more F1 team lineups for the 2026 season
The technically most interesting F1 car for the 2026 season:
- Ferrari SF-26 (53%, 740 Votes)
- Aston Martin AMR26 (17%, 235 Votes)
- Mercedes F1 W17 (14%, 189 Votes)
- Audi R26 (6%, 86 Votes)
- McLaren MCL40 (4%, 51 Votes)
- Red Bull RB22 (3%, 42 Votes)
- Cadillac MAC-26 (1%, 20 Votes)
- Alpine A526 (1%, 14 Votes)
- Williams FW48 (1%, 7 Votes)
- Haas VF-26 (0%, 6 Votes)
- Racing Bulls VCARB 03 (0%, 5 Votes)
Total Voters: 1 395
Source: Scuderia Ferrari and Pirelli
My comment on the results of both votes
In 2026, we have two approaches among F1 teams. Several teams presented liveries that are a direct continuation of those from the previous year. The other part of the teams introduced larger changes. In my opinion, the overall visual appearance of the cars in 2026 is better, more colors were used, the cars look better. The Ferrari SF-26 car is one of the most beautiful, the introduction of glossy paint does a good job. In my opinion, it is not perfect, nor the best, because the black wings spoil the effect. Personally, I voted for the Williams car in the poll, I also like Haas and Red Bull after the changes. Without changes, the Aston Martin and Racing Bulls cars look good, Mercedes nicely refreshed its colors. This year, I don’t like the Audi and Cadillac cars; in my opinion, both teams disappointed in their F1 debuts, they could have introduced something better. McLaren is also disappointing, as they should have opted for a combination of orange with, for example, blue or yellow. The combination with black looks bad.
In my opinion, the three technically most interesting cars after testing are Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Audi. These three cars stand out with interesting solutions, but it’s not Ferrari that is the most interesting. Their innovations concern small things. The Audi R26 car has a completely different external appearance in the side sections and stands out in the entire field. Aston Martin introduced many interesting aerodynamic elements, their car also stands out immediately. Based on visual factors, Audi and Aston Martin have, in my opinion, the most interesting solutions. Based on test results, the innovations in Ferrari are the best.
As promised, a photo of the Ferrari SF-26 will decorate the text about car presentations in the 2026 season.
Complete information about all Formula 1 car presentations for the 2026 season can be found in a special summary here. You will find dates, details, photos, and links to reviews of all presentations.
Read more Formula 1 calendar in 2026
