The 2026 F1 Grid is Nearly Finalized
The lineup for the 2026 Formula 1 season is shaping up quickly.
Recently, ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Alpine made it official that Franco Colapinto will be rejoining the team next year.
With the 2025 season on the horizon, it’s worth taking a moment to consider what the 2026 driver roster will look like.
At McLaren, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will both be staying for the 2026 season. Norris has secured a new multi-year contract, which will keep him at McLaren until 2027. In a similar vein, Piastri extended his contract during his rookie year in 2023; 2026 will mark the end of his current deal.
Before the Australian Grand Prix, McLaren confirmed that Piastri’s extension allows him to drive for the team beyond 2026.
Ferrari appears set with its driver lineup for the upcoming season. Charles Leclerc signed a contract in January 2024 that guarantees his spot for several more years. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton reportedly has a two-year deal with Ferrari, which includes an option for a third year, keeping him aboard at least through the 2025-2026 seasons.
Both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will continue with their team until the end of the 2026 season. Alonso renewed his contract in April 2024, and Stroll’s new deal announced last summer extends beyond 2025.
Over at Haas, there’s an entirely new driver lineup for the 2025 season, with Esteban Ocon coming in after a stint at Alpine and rookie Oliver Bearman joining him.
Both drivers have contracts with Haas that run through the 2026 season.
In the meantime, Carlos Sainz Jr. emerged as a highly sought-after free agent when Hamilton opted for Ferrari. With Leclerc already under contract, Sainz’s situation was under intense scrutiny. Ultimately, he signed multi-year deals with James Bowles and Williams, including an option for extension beyond 2026.
Additionally, his new teammate Alexander Albon will see his contract, established in spring 2024, also expire that year.
With Cadillac’s entry to the grid for 2026, it’s worth noting they won’t be the only new team. Sauber will cease operations after 2025, making way for Audi to enter as a full works team in 2026.
Leading up to 2025, Audi confirmed a duo of long-term drivers. Nico Hulkenberg was announced as Audi’s first driver ahead of the 2024 Miami Grand Prix, with a contract lasting until 2026. The same goes for rookie Gabriel Bortleto, the reigning 2024 F2 Drivers’ Champion.
Cadillac will debut with seasoned drivers who are familiar with the grid. Earlier this season, they confirmed that Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will be driving for them starting next season.
Alpine also confirmed this season that veteran Pierre Gasly will stay on, signing a multi-year extension keeping him with the team until 2028.
The second seat, however, was a topic of debate until today, when Alpine announced that Colapinto will be back for 2026. Though he hasn’t scored points yet, Alpine is banking on his potential as they prepare for the upcoming season. Since their last significant update to the A525 at the Spanish Grand Prix, they seem to be gearing up for a fresh start for 2026.
The driver pairing is now confirmed.
Mercedes faced a busy year, starting with both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli needing new contracts as Russell entered the final year of his deal and Antonelli on a one-year agreement. Amidst rumors about Toto Wolff possibly recruiting Verstappen, it was uncertain whether they would stick with their current lineup for 2026.
However, they reached a conclusion ahead of the US Grand Prix and announced that both drivers would remain for the next season.
And that’s where the intrigue begins.
Max Verstappen, who inked a long-term contract with Red Bull back in 2022, will stay with the team until 2028, despite ongoing whispers about a potential move to Mercedes. With Russell and Antonelli confirmed for next season, Verstappen is set to return as well.
As for his future teammate, Red Bull believed they had resolved that last summer by signing Sergio Perez to a new contract. However, due to underwhelming performances, the team shifted gears and opted for Liam Lawson to fill the seat for this season.
But Lawson also faced challenges, leading to Yuki Tsunoda being promoted to Red Bull, while Lawson found himself back at Visa Cash App Racing Bulls.
Whether Tsunoda has done enough to secure his position next season remains uncertain, and there’s speculation about Izak Hajjar, a remarkable rookie this year at VCARB, potentially taking his place.
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Now, turning to Red Bull’s sister team.
VCARB began the year with Hiroki Tsunoda and Izak Hajar, with Hajar stepping up from F2 and Tsunoda missing out on a spot with Red Bull alongside Verstappen.
As Lawson faced difficulties in the opening race, he was demoted to VCARB while Tsunoda attained a promotion.
There’s a growing expectation among paddock insiders that Hajar might be elevated to Red Bull next season. The question remains whether Tsunoda and Lawson will both stay at VCARB or if rising star Arvid Lindblad will secure one of those spots.
