Formula One is set to enter a new era in 2026, marked by its largest technical regulation change since its inception. The upcoming season will also see the addition of an 11th team on the grid, Cadillac, which will be its debut year in the sport. Audi will also join F1 as both a constructor and engine manufacturer, taking over from Sauber.
The only new face on the grid next season is Arvid Lindblad, who will move up from Formula 2 to take Isack Hadjar's seat at Red Bull's sister team Racing Bulls. Meanwhile, Hadjar has been promoted to the senior team, joining Max Verstappen as his teammate after a strong rookie season.
McLaren secured their second consecutive constructors' championship and drivers' title in 2025 with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the helm. The duo signed new multi-year contract extensions in January 2024 and March 2025 respectively, ensuring their continued presence on the grid for the long term.
Mercedes finished second in the constructors' championship in 2025 with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli driving the team's cars. Russell secured a contract extension in October, keeping him with Mercedes for a fifth consecutive season, while Antonelli signed an extension that will take him into his third year with the team.
Red Bull, meanwhile, has retained Max Verstappen, who is now locked in with a long-term contract until 2028. Hadjar, who previously drove for Racing Bulls, takes over from Isack Tsunoda to partner Verstappen in 2026.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton joined the team in 2025 and signed an extension that will keep him racing alongside Charles Leclerc in 2026. The Italian driver is set to compete for the eighth season with the team, having shown significant improvement despite struggling to secure a grand prix victory.
Williams secured fifth place in the constructors' championship in 2025 with Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon driving the cars. Sainz signed a multi-year contract extension that will take him into his second year with the team, while Albon is also staying on for the next season after signing an extension in May 2024.
Racing Bulls, the sister team of Red Bull, has promoted Liam Lawson to the senior team and paired him with Arvid Lindblad, who will move up from Formula 2 to fill the vacant seat.
Aston Martin retains its driver lineup for a fourth consecutive year with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. Alonso signed an extension that will take him into his fifth season with the team, while Stroll agreed to a contract extension in June 2024.
The American team Haas has retained Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman as drivers for another season after signing new multi-year contracts in January 2025.
Audi enters F1 with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, who both signed multi-year contracts when they joined Sauber in 2025. The German driver finally ended his F1 podium drought after 239 times of asking at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Alpine has promoted Pierre Gasly to a new contract extension that will keep him with the team until at least 2028. Franco Colapinto, who had a rocky start in the 2025 season, is also given another chance by the team in 2026.
Cadillac makes its debut in F1 with Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas driving for the new team. The pair have combined experience of 16 race wins and 106 podiums between them and will compete under the guidance of a veteran driver in both the car and on track.
The F1 2026 season is set to begin with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 6-8, marking a new chapter for Formula One.
The only new face on the grid next season is Arvid Lindblad, who will move up from Formula 2 to take Isack Hadjar's seat at Red Bull's sister team Racing Bulls. Meanwhile, Hadjar has been promoted to the senior team, joining Max Verstappen as his teammate after a strong rookie season.
McLaren secured their second consecutive constructors' championship and drivers' title in 2025 with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the helm. The duo signed new multi-year contract extensions in January 2024 and March 2025 respectively, ensuring their continued presence on the grid for the long term.
Mercedes finished second in the constructors' championship in 2025 with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli driving the team's cars. Russell secured a contract extension in October, keeping him with Mercedes for a fifth consecutive season, while Antonelli signed an extension that will take him into his third year with the team.
Red Bull, meanwhile, has retained Max Verstappen, who is now locked in with a long-term contract until 2028. Hadjar, who previously drove for Racing Bulls, takes over from Isack Tsunoda to partner Verstappen in 2026.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton joined the team in 2025 and signed an extension that will keep him racing alongside Charles Leclerc in 2026. The Italian driver is set to compete for the eighth season with the team, having shown significant improvement despite struggling to secure a grand prix victory.
Williams secured fifth place in the constructors' championship in 2025 with Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon driving the cars. Sainz signed a multi-year contract extension that will take him into his second year with the team, while Albon is also staying on for the next season after signing an extension in May 2024.
Racing Bulls, the sister team of Red Bull, has promoted Liam Lawson to the senior team and paired him with Arvid Lindblad, who will move up from Formula 2 to fill the vacant seat.
Aston Martin retains its driver lineup for a fourth consecutive year with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. Alonso signed an extension that will take him into his fifth season with the team, while Stroll agreed to a contract extension in June 2024.
The American team Haas has retained Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman as drivers for another season after signing new multi-year contracts in January 2025.
Audi enters F1 with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, who both signed multi-year contracts when they joined Sauber in 2025. The German driver finally ended his F1 podium drought after 239 times of asking at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Alpine has promoted Pierre Gasly to a new contract extension that will keep him with the team until at least 2028. Franco Colapinto, who had a rocky start in the 2025 season, is also given another chance by the team in 2026.
Cadillac makes its debut in F1 with Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas driving for the new team. The pair have combined experience of 16 race wins and 106 podiums between them and will compete under the guidance of a veteran driver in both the car and on track.
The F1 2026 season is set to begin with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 6-8, marking a new chapter for Formula One.
its been around since like 1950s or somethin & its still the same thing... drivers gettin fast 4 cash 
& teams fightin 4 wins 
meanwhile, it's basically a bunch of rich dudes in fancy cars racin @ each other 
! The addition of Cadillac as an 11th team and Audi as a constructor and engine manufacturer is gonna shake things up big time 
. And can we talk about the young guns like Arvid Lindblad, he's got some serious skills to bring to Racing Bulls 
. But you know what really gets me excited? The fact that Ferrari brought back Lewis Hamilton, it's like the king of the grid is back and stronger than ever 
. And McLaren's dominance is still on point, they're setting an example for the rest of the teams 
- Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton finally joining the team after years of being associated with McLaren, it's about time we see him get some recognition 
. Also can't believe Audi is making their F1 debut, I'm hyped to see what they bring to the table 
. And let's be real, who doesn't love a good underdog story? Racing Bulls promoting Liam Lawson to the senior team and pairing him with Arvid Lindblad, sounds like an exciting addition 
also super hyped about audi and cadillac joining the grid 
but i'm more excited for the racing itself, can't wait for the season to start 
. It's like they're trying to make F1 less exclusive by adding another team, Audi, but honestly it just feels like more noise to me. They also brought back old faces like Nico Hulkenberg which isn't a bad thing per se but at the same time I don't know how they fit him in with all the other legends 
. Can we just keep it to a smaller grid and see if that doesn't make the racing better? 
first off audi and cadillac are coming into f1 as an engine manufacturer which means big changes are gonna happen!! 
and then there's arvid lindblad making his debut in f1 after all those years of formula 2 and racing bulls 
they're like the ultimate package deal!!! 
what do u guys think about the new teams coming into f1?? r u as excited as me?!? 
! New teams like Cadillac 
and Audi 
are gonna shake things up 
. Red Bull's Verstappen is looking strong 
and I'm rooting for him 