F1 2026 Grid: Confirmed Driver Lineups For Each Team

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 07: George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team at the 2025 F1 drivers photo call prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 07, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)Getty ImagesFormula 1 will enter a new era in 2026 with the biggest technical regulation change in its history and will also welcome an 11th team on the grid in the form of American outfit Cadillac - the first all-new team to join the sport since Haas back in 2016.German marque Audi will also join the F1 scene as both constructor and engine manufacturer, taking over from Sauber.There will be only one new face on the grid next season with Arvid Lindblad, 19, moving up from Formula 2 to take over Isack Hadjar’s seat at Red Bull’s sister team Racing Bulls. Hadjar has earned a promotion to the senior team, stepping in for Yuki Tsunoda and becoming Max Verstappen’s seventh teammate since the Dutchman joined the Milton Keynes outfit back in 2016.This leaves Tsunoda without a seat in 2026 but he will remain with Red Bull as a test and reserve driver.ForbesF1 2026 Calendar: Full Race Schedule And Sprint VenuesBy Yara ElshebinyMORE FOR YOUF1 2026 Driver LineupsHere’s a rundown of who’s driving where next season:1. McLaren: Lando Norris, Oscar PiastriNew world champion Norris committed his long-term future to McLaren after signing an “extended multi-year” contract back in January 2024.Piastri, who finished in third place after leading the championship for a large stretch of the season, also penned a new multi-year contract extension in March 2025 which the Woking squad said will keep him on board “for the long term”.MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 03: Sprint winner Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren and Second placed Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren talk in parc ferme during the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 03, 2025 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Bryn Lennon - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)Formula 1 via Getty ImagesMcLaren secured a second consecutive constructors’ championship after 18 rounds in the 2025 season - their first back-to-back constructors’ titles since 1991.Norris’ maiden title also brought McLaren their first drivers’ championship in more than a decade, making it the first time since 1998 that the team clinched both championships in the same year.McLaren are armed with one of the strongest driver pairings on the grid heading into the 2026 season, and they will be hoping to continue their stellar run of form under the new regulations.ForbesMcLaren F1 Team Names Mastercard As Title Partner From 2026By Yara Elshebiny2. Mercedes: George Russell, Andrea Kimi AntonelliRussell’s future with Mercedes was uncertain for a good part of the season as the team had long been trying to lure Max Verstappen away from rivals Red Bull. Securing the Dutchman’s services would likely have meant parting ways with Russell, whose previous contract was set to expire at the end of 2025.However the Mercedes driver breathed a huge sigh of relief when Verstappen put to bed all speculation at the Hungarian Grand Prix in July and committed his 2026 campaign to Red Bull.After a long wait, Russell finally inked a contract extension in October that keeps him with the Silver Arrows for a fifth consecutive season, while Italian prodigy Kimi Antonelli is also staying with the team in 2026.MONTREAL, QUEBEC - JUNE 15: Race winner George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Third placed Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team and the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team celebrate during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 15, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)Formula 1 via Getty ImagesThe Brackley squad had an outstanding 2025 campaign, finishing second in the constructors’ championship with 469 points.Russell racked up 319 points that put him in fourth place in the drivers’ standings, while Antonelli ended his rookie year in seventh place - just six points shy of the man he replaced at Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton.Mercedes are expected to be among the frontrunners in 2026 under the new regulations.3. Red Bull: Max Verstappen, Isack HadjarVerstappen remains with the Milton Keynes squad in 2026 and is locked in with a long-term contract that runs until 2028 with exit clauses.Hadjar is stepping into the second seat, taking over from Tsunoda after a strong rookie season with Racing Bulls that included a podium finish at Zandvoort.ZANDVOORT, NETHERLANDS - AUGUST 31: Isack Hadjar of France and Visa Cash App RB applauds while Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing enters the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Netherlands at Circuit Zandvoort on August 31, 2025 in Zandvoort, Netherlands. (Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images)Getty ImagesVerstappen came very close to clinching his fifth world title in 2025, which would have placed him alongside the legendary Michael Schumacher as the only two drivers to win five consecutive championships.The Dutchman pulled off a stunning late-season charge, reducing what was a 104-point deficit to the championship lead after Zandvoort to just two points shy of the title.Now the Red Bull driver will be looking to make another run at the championship next season, which would see him level with Juan Manuel Fangio on five titles.ForbesFive Big Changes Coming To Formula 1 In 2026By Brett Knight4. Ferrari: Lewis Hamilton, Charles LeclercHamilton joined the Scuderia in 2025 on a multi-year contract that will keep him through 2026 alongside Leclerc, who is set to race for the Italian team for the eighth season.Both drivers will be hoping to turn their fortunes around under the new regulations after a tough 2025 campaign in which neither secured a grand prix victory.Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Scuderia Ferrari and Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Scuderia Ferrari attend the Fan Forum during Qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Australia, on March 15, 2025. (Photo by Qian Jun/Paddocker/NurPhoto via Getty Images)NurPhoto via Getty ImagesLeclerc managed to achieve seven podium finishes while Hamilton endured a season to forget, failing to score a single podium finish for the first time in his 19-year career.Despite the struggles, the seven-time world champion did manage to secure the team’s only victory of the season in the sprint race during round two in China.Hamilton wrapped up his first season in red in sixth place in the drivers’ championship, trailing fifth-placed Leclerc by 86 points.ForbesFormula 1’s Highest-Paid Drivers 2025By Brett Knight5. Williams: Carlos Sainz, Alexander AlbonSainz joined the Grove-based outfit from Ferrari in 2025 on a multi-year contract that keeps him through 2026. Albon will also continue with the team for the fifth season, having signed a multi-year contract extension in May 2024 which carries him into the new era of F1.BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - SEPTEMBER 19: Carlos Sainz of Spain and Williams walks in the paddock with Alexander Albon of Thailand and Williams during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on September 19, 2025 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Jayce Illman/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThe Williams duo helped the team secure fifth place in the 2025 constructors’ standings - their best finish since 2017. Sainz also secured two impressive third-place finishes in Azerbaijan and Qatar, making him the first Williams driver in a decade to achieve two podiums in the same season.6. Racing Bulls: Liam Lawson, Arvid LindbladFollowing Hadjar’s promotion to Red Bull, Lindblad will move up from Formula 2 to fill the vacant seat alongside Lawson, who retains his spot for the next year.7. Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso, Lance StrollThe Silverstone outfit will field the same driver pairing in 2026 for the fourth consecutive year.Alonso, who joined the team from Alpine in 2023, is signed through 2026, while Stroll agreed to a contract extension in June 2024 that keeps him on board for “2025 and beyond”.BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - SEPTEMBER 21: Fernando Alonso of Spain and Aston Martin F1 Team walks in the pit lane with Lance Stroll of Canada and Aston Martin F1 Team during the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on September 21, 2025 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Jayce Illman/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThe 2026 season could be Alonso’s last in F1 should Aston Martin deliver a competitive car, as it would be a “very good moment” for him to hang up his racing helmet.“If things go well, I think it’s a very good moment to stop because, as you said, I've been chasing a competitive car and a competitive racing for many, many years, and if I have that I think it's a very good way to close my career,” Alonso said in an interview released by the team.“Let's say that if we are competitive, there is more chance that I stop. If we are not competitive, it will be very hard to give up without trying again.”Aston Martin will have a new team principal in Adrian Newey - who will continue to lead the technical team - with Honda joining as the team’s new engine supplier. ForbesAdrian Newey Named Aston Martin Team Principal In Major F1 Shake-UpBy Kanzah Maktoum8. Haas: Esteban Ocon, Oliver BearmanThe American team will retain the same driver lineup for a second consecutive year, with Ocon and Bearman both locked into multi-year contracts.9. Audi: Nico Hulkenberg, Gabriel BortoletoHulkenberg and Bortoleto will be the first two drivers to race under Audi’s banner, having both signed multi-year contracts when they joined Sauber in 2025.NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JULY 6: Nico Hulkenberg of Germany and Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber (C) celebrates with Gabriel Bortoleto of Brazil and Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber and Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber COO and CTO Mattia Binotto after finishing on the podium for the first time during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 6, 2025 in Northampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images)Getty ImagesHulkenberg finally ended his F1 podium drought in 2025 after 239 times of asking, securing third place at Silverstone and giving the team their first podium finish in 13 years - and their 11th overall.The German also scored points at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix under the eyes of team founder Peter Sauber, who was there to see his name on the grid for one final time.10. Alpine: Pierre Gasly, Franco ColapintoGasly inked a new contract extension during the 2025 Italian Grand Prix at Monza that keeps him with the Enstone-based squad until at least 2028. Colapinto, who had a rocky start after replacing Jack Doohan only six rounds into the 2025 season, has shown enough improvement to be given another chance by the team in 2026.11. Cadillac: Sergio Perez, Valtteri BottasThe General Motors-backed outfit banked on experience in their debut season in F1, bringing in veteran drivers Perez and Bottas on multi-year contracts after a year out of full-time seats.The pair have a combined 16 race wins and 106 podiums between them, and they have both claimed second-place finishes in the drivers’ championship at some points during their careers.ForbesCadillac F1 Team Signs Valtteri Bottas And Sergio Perez For 2026By Yara ElshebinyF1 2026 GridMcLaren: Lando Norris, Oscar PiastriMercedes: George Russell, Andrea Kimi AntonelliRed Bull: Max Verstappen, Isack HadjarFerrari: Lewis Hamilton, Charles LeclercWilliams: Carlos Sainz, Alexander AlbonRacing Bulls: Liam Lawson, Arvid LindbladAston Martin: Fernando Alonso, Lance StrollHaas: Esteban Ocon, Oliver BearmanAudi: Nico Hulkenberg, Gabriel BortoletoAlpine: Pierre Gasly, Franco ColapintoCadillac: Sergio Perez, Valtteri BottasThe F1 2026 season begins with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 6-8.