The 2025 Method 1 season will not be but over however speak is already strife for subsequent yr, which is about to be one of many largest within the championship’s historical past.
It’ll debut the forthcoming regulation swap with vehicles set to turn out to be lighter and smaller with a much bigger emphasis on electrical energy.
There will even be a brand new group added to the equation, as American outfit Cadillac will turn out to be F1’s eleventh squad and its preparation for the 2026 marketing campaign has been properly documented.
That has included its driver line-up, with Cadillac being certainly one of certainly one of 9 groups to have confirmed its pairing for 2026 after Alpine just lately confirmed Franco Colapinto’s contract renewal.
So, right here is how the F1 grid at the moment seems for subsequent season.
F1 2026 driver line-up
Alpine 2026 F1 drivers
Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Photograph by: James Sutton / LAT Photographs through Getty Photographs
Alpine is properly on 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 group. 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 some extent and suffered avoidable crashes in Japan and Australia.
Doohan was subsequently 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 group atmosphere hasn’t precisely allowed his younger driver to flourish. There’s been numerous modifications in administration, whereas the automotive hasn’t been upgraded since June with earlier updates additionally not working as supposed.
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 brand new contract that takes him till the tip of 2028, after becoming a member of the squad firstly of 2023.
Aston Martin 2026 F1 drivers
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / LAT Photographs through Getty Photographs
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 tip of subsequent season and what he does past is at the moment a sizzling matter given the Spaniard is 44-years-old and now not in his prime.
Retirement is doubtlessly on the playing cards, however numerous that will depend on how aggressive Aston Martin is in 2026 and there’s perception that will probably be given the signing of legendary designer Adrian Newey, plus Honda becoming a member of as its engine provider.
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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
Photograph by: Andy Hone/ LAT Photographs through Getty Photographs
Audi will full its full takeover of Sauber when it makes its F1 debut subsequent yr. It’ll 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 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 document. Each are contracted till the tip of 2026 and proper now there’s no purpose for Sauber/Audi to need to change it heading into 2027.
Cadillac 2026 F1 drivers
Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez, Cadillac
Photograph by: Cadillac Communications
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 possibility for a 3rd, efficiency associated.
Each Perez and Bottas definitely have factors to show. Perez was dropped by Pink Bull on the finish of 2024, following a poor run of type that noticed him end eighth within the championship whereas team-mate Max Verstappen gained his fourth title. Bottas, in the meantime, didn’t have his contract renewed by Sauber having not scored some extent final season.
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That didn’t fear Cadillac although, as CEO Dan Towriss revealed that the pair’s expertise, a mixed 527 grand prix begins and 16 wins, is a giant plus for a start-up squad. It was then introduced shortly afterwards that former IndyCar star Colton Herta will assist 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
Photograph by: Bryn Lennon / Method 1 through Getty Photographs
The 2025 F1 season has not been the marketing campaign Ferrari hoped for, having did not 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 frequently crushed by team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton continues to be signed for subsequent yr although, as he has typically burdened that it takes time to adapt to a brand new group as a result of the SF-25 hasn’t precisely been constructed to his liking. He subsequently hopes to place his “DNA” on subsequent yr’s automotive when the brand new rules 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 just lately confirming that he’s solely thinking about successful his maiden world title on the Scuderia.
Haas 2026 F1 drivers
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Group, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Group
Photograph by: James Sutton / LAT Photographs through Getty Photographs
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 prime.
Each have impressed as properly as a result of Haas has outscored its factors tally of 58 from final yr, even when it’d end in a decrease place as a result of elevated competitors.
The apparent 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
Photograph by: Andy Hone/ LAT Photographs through Getty Photographs
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are each on long-term contracts at McLaren, which has loved a big upturn in the previous few years. When Piastri joined as a rookie in 2023, the group 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. The Woking squad can also be in good place to finish its 17-year drivers’ championship drought with Norris and Piastri at the moment prime two within the 2025 standings.
They’ve 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 tip 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
Photograph by: James Sutton / Motorsport Photographs through Getty Photographs
Mercedes dominated the 2026 F1 driver market after George Russell revealed in early summer season that the Silver Arrows had been chatting with Verstappen’s camp relating to his future plans. There was thus debate over whether or not the four-time world champion would make the leap from Pink Bull, and whether or not he would substitute Russell or Andrea Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes.
Though Verstappen’s contract runs till the tip of 2028, it’s understood that there have been numerous exit clauses that had triggers across the 2025 summer season break with one regarding his championship place. For instance, if he wasn’t within the prime three by that time then he may very well be freed up, however fourth in Spa ended that risk.
So as soon as that occurred, Verstappen lastly dedicated to Pink 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.
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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
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Group, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Group
Photograph by: James Sutton / LAT Photographs through Getty Photographs
Racing Bulls is certainly one of two groups but to substantiate their driver line-ups for the 2026 F1 marketing campaign, with sister outfit Pink Bull being the opposite. Helmut Marko beforehand mentioned that the organisation was aiming to substantiate each pairings by the tip of October, however Verstappen’s sudden late title problem precipitated Pink Bull to delay it till December.
It’s nonetheless anticipated that Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar will likely be promoted right into a Pink Bull seat, after a powerful rookie season that has included a podium at Zandvoort leaving him within the prime 10 of the championship.
Hadjar has typically crushed team-mate Liam Lawson, who began the yr with Pink Bull however was dropped after simply two race weekends. Though it’s not but confirmed, the New Zealander is anticipated to stick with Racing Bulls subsequent yr and accomplice present F2 racer Arvid Lindblad, who has been a Pink Bull junior since 2022.
Pink Bull 2026 F1 drivers
Yuki Tsunoda, Pink Bull Racing Group
Photograph by: Andy Hone/ LAT Photographs through Getty Photographs
Max Verstappen: Contracted till the tip of 2028
TBC
Verstappen is about for his eleventh season at Pink 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, 68 grand prix victories and quite a few document breakings.
Following his maiden championship in 2021, Verstappen signed his present deal which takes him till the tip of 2028 with it clear that every part at Pink 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 Yuki 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 group, however has confronted related struggles with the difficult-to-drive RB21. The 25-year-old is seventeenth within the championship – Verstappen is third – with simply 28 factors and his future is below extreme doubt. As Hadjar and Lindblad are each anticipated to obtain promotions, with Lawson more likely to keep the place he’s, it seems as if the writing is on the wall for Tsunoda’s F1 profession.
Williams 2026 F1 drivers
Carlos Sainz, Williams, Alexander Albon, Williams
Photograph by: Peter Fox / Getty Photographs
Alex Albon: Contracted till the tip of 2026
Carlos Sainz: Contracted till the tip of 2026
All the things is extra secure at Williams, nonetheless, which is about to proceed with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz into 2026. Albon joined firstly of 2022 with a damaged popularity following his Pink Bull struggles and an F1 sabbatical in 2021, however the Thai-Briton has since established himself as a really stable 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 gained 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 will enhance subsequent yr when he has a automotive that was constructed together with his enter. Each drivers are contracted till the tip of 2026.
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