The grid for the 2026 Method 1 season is now full after Crimson Bull introduced modifications throughout each of the groups it owns within the championship.
Isack Hadjar will replace Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull after a disappointing season for the Japanese racer, whereas F2’s Arvid Lindblad will occupy the Frenchman’s spot at Racing Bulls.
These modifications will come into impact when F1 debuts one in every of its largest regulation modifications in historical past, as automobiles will change into lighter and smaller with a much bigger emphasis on electrical energy.
There will even be a brand new staff added to the equation, as Cadillac will change into F1’s eleventh squad with two outdated faces returning to drive for the American outfit.
So, right here is how the F1 grid appears for subsequent season.
F1 2026 driver line-up
Alpine 2026 F1 drivers
Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Picture by: James Sutton / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
- Pierre Gasly: Contracted till the top of 2028
- Franco Colapinto: Contracted till the top of 2026
Alpine is effectively on the right track for its worst-ever end in an F1 season, as it’s backside of the constructors’ standings after many comings-and-goings on the staff. It began the yr with Pierre Gasly and rookie Jack Doohan, however the 22-year-old was dropped simply six rounds in having not scored a degree and suffered avoidable crashes in Japan and Australia.
Doohan was due to this fact changed by reserve driver Colapinto, who had joined Alpine following his nine-round stint with Williams on the finish of 2024. The 22-year-old Argentine hasn’t fared significantly better than Doohan although, as he’s additionally with no level however nonetheless signed for subsequent season with the French outfit believing in his potential.
When Colapinto’s renewal was introduced, Alpine govt advisor Flavio Briatore acknowledged that the staff surroundings hasn’t precisely allowed his younger driver to flourish. There’s been varied modifications in administration, whereas the automotive hasn’t been upgraded since June with earlier updates additionally not working as meant.
Regardless of all of that, veteran Gasly believes in Alpine’s potential and that was proven in September when the grand prix winner signed a new contract that takes him until the end of 2028, after becoming a member of the squad at the beginning of 2023.
Aston Martin 2026 F1 drivers
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Picture by: Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
- Fernando Alonso: Contracted till the top of 2026
- Lance Stroll: Rolling contract
Aston Martin is about to start out its fourth consecutive season with the identical driver pairing, as Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are each signed for the 2026 marketing campaign. Alonso, who joined in 2023, is contracted till the top of subsequent season and what he does past is at the moment a scorching matter given the Spaniard is 44-years-old and not in his prime.
Retirement is probably on the playing cards, however quite a lot of that depends upon how aggressive Aston Martin is in 2026 and there’s perception that will probably be given the signing of legendary designer Adrian Newey, who will even change into staff boss subsequent yr alongside Honda becoming a member of as its engine provider.
A very good season may be very a lot wanted as a result of Aston Martin has been firmly planted within the midfield the previous couple years, failing to kick on from its sturdy begin to 2023 when Alonso scored six podiums within the opening eight grands prix.
Stroll, who joined the squad in 2019 when it was referred to as Racing Level, continues to be in search of his first podium since 2020 however his future is safer than that of his team-mate. Given his father Lawrence owns the squad, Lance successfully has a contract for so long as he desires.
Audi 2026 F1 drivers
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Picture by: Andy Hone/ LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
- Nico Hulkenberg: Contracted till the top of 2026
- Gabriel Bortoleto: Contracted till the top of 2026
Audi will full its full takeover of Sauber when it makes its F1 debut subsequent yr. It’s going to achieve this with the identical driver pairing at the moment on the Swiss outfit, with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto set to start out their second season as team-mates after each joined in 2025.
They’ve been key to the huge enhancements seen at Sauber this yr, after it solely scored 4 factors within the 2024 marketing campaign. Hulkenberg, for instance, lastly claimed an F1 podium by taking third on the British Grand Prix and is on the right track for his highest factors tally because the 2018 season with Renault.
Bortoleto, in the meantime, has impressed throughout his rookie marketing campaign and though he solely has about half his team-mate’s factors tally, the 21-year-old has a greater qualifying file. Each are contracted till the top of 2026 and proper now there’s no purpose for Sauber/Audi to wish to change it heading into 2027.
Cadillac 2026 F1 drivers
Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez, Cadillac
Picture by: Cadillac Communications
- Sergio Perez: Contracted till the top of 2027
- Valtteri Bottas: Contracted till the top of 2027
Cadillac has chosen an skilled pairing for its debut season, as F1 veterans Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas will race for the American outfit. It’s understood that they’re each signed to two-year contracts, with an choice for a 3rd, efficiency associated.
Each Perez and Bottas definitely have factors to show. Perez was dropped by Crimson Bull on the finish of 2024, following a poor run of kind that noticed him end eighth within the championship whereas team-mate Max Verstappen received his fourth title. Bottas, in the meantime, didn’t have his contract renewed by Sauber having not scored a degree final season.
That didn’t fear Cadillac although, as CEO Dan Towriss revealed that the pair’s experience, a combined 527 grand prix starts and 16 wins, is a big plus for a start-up squad. It was then introduced shortly afterwards that former IndyCar star Colton Herta will support the pair as a reserve, with Simon Pagenaud, Pietro Fittipaldi and Charlie Eastwood all signed as simulator drivers.
Ferrari 2026 F1 drivers
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Picture by: Bryn Lennon / Method 1 by way of Getty Pictures
- Charles Leclerc: Multi-year contract
- Lewis Hamilton: Contracted till the top of 2026
The 2025 F1 season has not been the marketing campaign Ferrari hoped for, having didn’t kick on from its runner-up end to McLaren final yr. Ferrari is but to win a grand prix, has solely scored seven Sunday podiums with the one spotlight being Lewis Hamilton’s dash win in Shanghai.
China-aside, it has additionally been a disappointing debut season at Ferrari for Hamilton, because the seven-time world champion is sixth within the championship and has been repeatedly crushed by team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton continues to be signed for subsequent yr although, as he has usually pressured that it takes time to adapt to a brand new staff as a result of the SF-25 hasn’t precisely been constructed to his liking. He therefore hopes to put his “DNA” on next year’s car when the brand new laws kick in and he’ll as soon as once more do it alongside Leclerc.
Leclerc has raced for Ferrari since 2019 and he’s signed on a multi-year foundation, with the 28-year-old recently confirming that he is only interested in winning his maiden world title at the Scuderia.
Haas 2026 F1 drivers
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Crew, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Crew
Picture by: James Sutton / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
- Esteban Ocon: Contracted till the top of 2026
- Oliver Bearman: Contracted till the top of 2026
Haas, like Sauber, began the 2025 season with an all-new pairing that consisted of 1 veteran and one rookie. The 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix winner Esteban Ocon joined from Alpine, whereas Oliver Bearman graduated from F2 for his first, full season on the high.
Each have impressed as effectively as a result of Haas has outscored its factors tally of 58 from final yr, even when it’d end in a decrease place because of the elevated competitors.
The plain spotlight is Mexico, the place Bearman completed fourth and was operating in a podium place for a lot of the competition, whereas Ocon has additionally delivered, having scored fifth in China. They are going to be Haas team-mates once more subsequent yr, however what occurs past 2026 continues to be unknown.
McLaren 2026 F1 drivers
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Picture by: Andy Hone/ LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
- Lando Norris: Multi-year contract
- Oscar Piastri: Multi-year contract
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are each on long-term contracts at McLaren, which has loved a big upturn in the previous couple of years. When Piastri joined as a rookie in 2023, the staff had simply completed fifth within the 2022 championship and began the next season poorly with no factors within the opening two rounds.
However mid-season updates modified McLaren’s fortunes, ultimately resulting in it ending its 26-year constructors’ championship drought by claiming the 2024 title. Norris and Piastri have each been key to McLaren’s transformation and with them nonetheless younger, Norris is 25 and Piastri is 24, it’s comprehensible that they’re signed to long-term offers as they every chase their maiden title.
Norris signed his most up-to-date renewal in January 2024, when it was introduced as a ‘multi-year deal’ that’s more likely to run till the top of 2027. Piastri, in the meantime, put pen to paper in March 2025 together with his ‘multi-year’ contract anticipated to run out in 2028.
Mercedes 2026 F1 drivers
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Picture by: James Sutton / Motorsport Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
- George Russell: Multi-year contract
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli: Contracted till the top of 2026
Mercedes dominated the 2026 F1 driver market after George Russell revealed in early summer that the Silver Arrows had been speaking to Verstappen’s camp regarding his future plans. There was thus debate over whether or not the four-time world champion would make the leap from Crimson Bull, and whether or not he would exchange Russell or Andrea Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes.
Though Verstappen’s contract runs till the top of 2028, it’s understood that there have been varied exit clauses that had triggers across the 2025 summer season break with one referring to his championship place. For instance, if he wasn’t within the high three by that time then he might be freed up, however fourth in Spa ended that risk.
So as soon as that occurred, Verstappen finally committed to Red Bull for 2026 which made it clear that Russell and Antonelli would stay with the German producer. That was confirmed in October, with Russell signed to a multi-year deal whereas Antonelli’s future past 2026 continues to be unknown.
The 19-year-old has endured a really inconsistent rookie marketing campaign, as his dash pole in Miami and Canada podium has been mired by a number of offs. Antonelli’s potential continues to be clear to see, whereas Russell has been close to faultless this yr as he’s fourth within the standings with victories in Montreal and Singapore.
Racing Bulls 2026 F1 drivers
Podium: second place Arvid Lindblad, Campos Racing
Picture by: Method Motorsport Ltd
- Liam Lawson: Contracted unspecified
- Arvid Lindblad: Contracted unspecified
Racing Bulls will hand Arvid Lindblad his F1 debut subsequent yr, because the 18-year-old Briton will make the leap up from F2 after only one season of the collection. He’s at the moment sixth within the standings with wins in Jeddah and Barcelona after being fast-tracked via the Crimson Bull junior programme.
He’ll accomplice Liam Lawson, who is about for his first, full marketing campaign on the Faenza outfit after beginning 2025 with Crimson Bull. He was dropped after two point-less grands prix although and has regularly rediscovered his kind all through 2025.
That did not earn him a transfer again to Crimson Bull although, as the chance as a substitute went to 2025 team-mate Isack Hadjar with Yuki Tsunoda being pushed onto the sidelines. The contract conditions of each Racing Bulls drivers hasn’t been formally introduced, however they’re more likely to be offers which have them signed for 2026 with the choice for 2027.
Crimson Bull 2026 F1 drivers
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Crew
Picture by: Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Pictures
- Max Verstappen: Contracted till the top of 2028
- Isack Hadjar: Contract unspecified
Verstappen is about for his eleventh season at Crimson Bull after making his race-winning debut on the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix. The 28-year-old has loved an extremely profitable run throughout that point, with 4 world titles and quite a few file breakings.
Following his maiden championship in 2021, Verstappen signed his present deal which takes him till the top of 2028 with it clear that all the pieces at Crimson Bull is constructed round him. That has had a knock-on impact relating to his team-mates although, with Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Perez, Lawson and now Tsunoda all having struggled since Daniel Ricciardo’s shock departure on the finish of 2018.
Tsunoda was signed as Lawson’s substitute for spherical three of 2025 after 4 years on the sister staff, however has confronted comparable struggles with the difficult-to-drive RB21. The 25-year-old is fifteenth within the championship – Verstappen is second – and that led to him being demoted right into a reserve position for 2026.
He can be changed by Hadjar, who will Verstappen at Crimson Bull after a strong rookie marketing campaign which noticed him rating a podium for Racing Bulls on the Dutch Grand Prix. His contract scenario is anticipated to be just like that of Lawson and Lindblad.
Williams 2026 F1 drivers
Carlos Sainz, Williams, Alexander Albon, Williams
Picture by: Peter Fox / Getty Pictures
- Alex Albon: Contracted till the top of 2026
- Carlos Sainz: Contracted till the top of 2026
Every thing is extra secure at Williams, nevertheless, which is about to proceed with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz into 2026. Albon joined at the beginning of 2022 with a damaged repute following his Crimson Bull struggles and an F1 sabbatical in 2021, however the Thai-Briton has since established himself as a really strong F1 driver main Williams to the entrance of the midfield.
The 2025 season has arguably been his greatest but, as he’s eighth within the championship with constant level scores and is forward of new-for-2025 team-mate Sainz. Sainz, who has received 4 grands prix, joined after Ferrari changed him with Hamilton and has had an up-and-down yr, maybe not delivering on what was initially anticipated.
Though he’s not been fairly as constant as Albon, Sainz does have a podium to boast having completed third in Baku and may enhance subsequent yr when he has a automotive that was constructed together with his enter. Each drivers are contracted till the top of 2026.
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