2026 F1 drivers and teams

Cadillac’s confirmation as the 11^th team in F1 is of course a huge development for the sport, heralding the arrival of a huge American manufacturer into the paddock, while also opening the door for two more drivers to compete in F1 in the form of experienced hands Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez.

Engine headlines: Renault out, Audi in

This season sees the long-awaited arrival of Audi as it completes its takeover of Sauber. We know the manufacturer has been busy developing its own engine since this purchase was announced back in 2022, so it will be interesting to see how quickly Audi can get up to speed at the beginning of a brand new set of regulations. Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoletto are continuing with the team through the transformation. 

In other engine news, Aston Martin begins its own new partnership with Honda, becoming a works outfit for the first time with the Japanese engine supplier that was instrumental in Red Bull’s recent Championship success. Two-time World Champion Fernando Alonso and team-mate Lance Stroll are both contracted to remain with the team in 2026.

It’s almost as though engines are going to be the big talking point at the beginning of a brand-new set of regulations, a season that will see Renault leave the sport in all capacities for the first time since 1988 leaving only the Alpine-branded team to fly the French flag.

Finally, Red Bull’s long-awaited collaboration with Ford begins in earnest this year, when the outcomes of a partnership that began in 2023 will become clear. Red Bull has endured its fair share of engine drama since the beginning of the hybrid era, that 2014 season was a dramatic fall from grace after four seasons of domination. Max Verstappen, himself now a four-time World Champion, and latest team-mate Isack Hadjar will be hoping to avoid a repeat.

The 2026 F1 grid

Images courtesy of Getty Images.