2026 F1 Season Preview – New Rules, New Teams, New Champions?
Lando Norris ended 2025 as the new FIA Formula 1 World Champion. However, he will defend his title in 2026 against the backdrop of some of the biggest changes tn rules in F1 history.
These new rule changes mean teams will effectively start the season with a complete reset, with new car designs, new engine regulations and new rules on aerodynamics meaning that the advantages some teams enjoyed last season, are likely to be radically diminished, if not obliterated completely.
During six days of testing in Bahrain, little differentiated the teams. Despite that, most observers felt that it was Mercedes and especially driver George Russell, who seemed to be the quickest of the teams.
At the other end of the grid it was Aston Martin, with Adrian Newey’s newly designed car, that struggled, with the British marque some way off the pace of the top running teams.
Here’s the teams and drivers and their numbers, that will be competing in 2026.
2026 Season Competitors
- Alpine – Pierre Gasly (10), Franco Colapinto (43)
- Aston Martin – Fernando Alonso (14), Lance Stroll (18)
- Audi – Gabriel Bortoleto (5), Nico Hulkenberg (27)
- Cadillac – Sergio Perez (11), Valtteri Bottas (77)
- Ferrari – Charles Leclerc (16), Lewis Hamilton (44)
- Haas – Oliver Bearman (87), Esteban Ocon (31)
- McLaren – Oscar Piastri (81), Lando Norris (1)
- Mercedes – George Russell (63), Kimi Antonelli (12)
- Red Bull – Max Verstappen (3), Isack Hadjar (6)
- Racing Bulls – Liam Lawson (30), Arvid Lindblad (41)
- Williams – Alex Albon (23), Carlos Sainz (55)
New Teams, Name Changes and a Rookie Driver
There are two new names on the grid in 2026, though only one new team. Cadillac are the completely new team, and they opted for an experienced duo of Perez and Bottas for their first campaign in F1.
The other new name is Audi, although they are formerly the Sauber team, who changed their name for the 2026 season.
In terms of drivers, only one driver will kick off the season as a rookie, Racing Bulls Arvid Lindblad, who is just 18 years of age, who won two F2 races in 2025 and has been rated as a huge prospect since joining Red Bull at the age of 12.
Race Schedule 2026
- 8th March – Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne
- 15th March – Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai
- 29th March – Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka
- 12th April – Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir
- 19th April – Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, Jeddah
- 3rd May – Miami Grand Prix, Miami
- 24th May – Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal
- 7th June – Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo
- 14th June – Catalunya Grand Prix, Barcelona
- 28th June – Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg
- 5th July – British Grand Prix, Silverstone
- 19th July – Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps
- 26th July – Hungarian Grand Prix, Hungaroring
- 23rd August – Dutch Grand Prix, Zandvoort
- 6th September – Italian Grand Prix, Monza
- 13th September – Spanish Grand Prix, Madrid
- 26th September – Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Baku
- 11th October – Singapore Grand Prix, Marina Bay
- 25th October – US Grand Prix, Austin
- 1st November – Mexican Grand Prix, Mexico City
- 8th November – Brazilian Grand Prix, Interlagos
- 21st November – Las Vegas Grand Prix, Las Vegas
- 29th November – Qatar Grand Prix, Lusail
- 6th December – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Yas Marina
Latest Betting Odds – F1 Drivers Championship
- 2/1 – George Russell
- 3/1 – Max Verstappen
- 5/1 – Charles Leclerc
- 13/2 – Lewis Hamilton
- 9/1 – Kimi Antonelli
- 10/1- Lando Norris
- 14/1 – Oscar Piastri
- 40/1 – Fernando Alonso
- 100/1 – bar
Latest Betting Odds – F1 Constructors Championship
- 6/5 – Mercedes
- 5/2 – Ferrari, McLaren
- 7/1 – Red Bull
- 50/1 – Aston Martin
- 66/1 – Alpine
- 150/1 – Haas, Williams
- 250/1 – Audi
- 400/1 – Racing Bulls
- 500/1 – Cadillac
It promises to be a hugely exciting season with so much still unknown about the state of each teams car and engine. Last season proved to be an exciting race with three drivers in with a chance of the title. This year could be even more open!
