The 2026 Formula 1 grid is closed. Racing Bulls recently confirmed its driver duo for next season, just as Red Bull defined Max Verstappen’s teammate.
In addition to the driver grid, the category will have a debuting team, Cadillac. The news has already announced who the drivers will be for the first season in F1: Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez.
Check out all the team and driver updates below.
Teams confirmed in 2026
- McLaren (GBR)
- Ferrari (ITA)
- Red Bull (AUT)
- Mercedes (GBR)
- Aston Martin (GBR)
- Alpine (FRA)
- Haas (USA)
- Racing Bulls (ITA/AUT)
- Williams (GBR)
- Sauber (SUI)
- Cadillac (USA)
F1 2026: Drivers confirmed by team
The change everyone expected did not come. Max Verstappen will remain at Red Bull next year and already has a partner defined: Isack Hadjar. THE Mercedes confirmed in October that it will not change the team.
In a team that is winning, don’t move. This is what McLaren has been preaching and with that it will keep its two drivers: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The team even negotiated the extension of Piastri’s contract until the end of 2028. Follow how F1’s musical chairs are going:
| Team | Confirmed Pilots |
|---|---|
| McLaren | Lando Norris (contract until 2026) Oscar Piastri (contract until 2028) |
| Ferrari | Charles Leclerc (contract until 2029) Lewis Hamilton (contract until 2026) |
| Red Bull | Max Verstappen (bond until 2028) Isack Hadjar |
| Mercedes |
George Russell (contract until 2027) |
| Aston Martin | Lance Stroll (ongoing contract) Fernando Alonso (contract until 2026) |
| Alpine | Pierres Gasly and Franco Corap |
| Haas | Oliver Bearman (contract until the end of 2026) Esteban Ocon (contract until the end of 2026) |
| Racing Bulls | Liam Lawson Arvid Lindblad |
| Williams | Alexander Albon (contract until the end of 2026) Carlos Sainz (contract until the end of 2026) |
| Audi | Nico Hülkenberg (contract until the end of 2026) Gabriel Bortoleto (contract until the end of 2026) |
| Cadillac |
Valtteri Bottas (duration not disclosed) |
New teams in Formula 1
Cadillac will make its debut in the sport in early 2026. To date, the company has Ferrari as its majority supplier, the clothing brand Tommy Hilfiger as an official sponsor and the hiring of Rob White, former technical head of engines at Renault, in its entourage. Andretti Autosport is a partner of General Motors in the project.
The team announced on August 26th who the first two drivers in the team’s history will be, who will debut in Formula 1 in 2026: Mexican Sergio Pérez and Finnish Valteri Bottas, both 35 years old and have a long journey in motorsport.
Pérez was runner-up in F1 in 2023 and had been off the grid since the end of 2024, when he was dismissed from his position as RBR starter. The Finn, also runner-up in 2019 and 2020, spent a year absent after being released by Sauber and was in the Mercedes reserve.
Furthermore, the Stake SauberBrazilian’s current team Gabriel Bortoletowill also undergo a redesign and will run as Audi from next year. The German brand acquired Sauber at the end of 2024 and promises to enter F1 with a competitive car.
Max Verstappen guaranteed at Red Bull
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen put a definitive end to speculation and confirmed that he will remain at RBR for the 2026 Formula 1 season in a press conference held this Thursday (31), in Hungary.
— It was very interesting to follow all this volume of cool stories, let’s say, that came out of this. But I never said anything about it because I was focused on talking to the team about how we can improve our performance, future ideas for next year. I think it’s time to stop all the rumors, and for me it was always very clear that I would stay — said the four-time champion.
Verstappen’s current contract with RBR ends in 2028. The round in Spa-Francorchampsin fact, was important to finish the soap opera.
Max’s contract has a significant clause that if the Dutchman found himself outside the top three in the Drivers’ Championship at a specific benchmark, F1’s traditional summer break, he would be allowed to leave early.
With fourth place in the main race and victory in the sprint over the weekend, Verstappen secured third place in the Drivers’ World Championship by entering the summer break with a weekend in advance and eliminated a performance clause in his contract with Red Bull.
MORE: Max Verstappen has a defined destiny in Formula 1; know choose
F1 2026: team radar
McLaren
- Norris and Piastri maintained.
Ferrari
Red Bull
-
Verstappen has a long contract and despite advances from other teams, he should remain at Red Bull after good results in the final stretch of the first half of the year. Isack Hadjar, after a great rookie season, was promoted to the main team, leaving Tsunoda without a seat for 2026.
Mercedes
- Mercedes has made it official that it will renew the contracts of George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Aston Martin
Alpine
BREAKING: Franco Colapinto will race for Alpine in 2026 alongside Pierre Gasly 🤝#F1 pic.twitter.com/VBbid3QIKN
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 7, 2025
Haas
Racing Bulls
-
Liam Lawson had his stay confirmed for 2026.
-
The team also confirmed 18-year-old Englishman Arvid Lindblad, currently in Formula 2, as the second driver.
Your VCARB line-up for 2026 😮💨@liamlawson30 will welcome Arvid Lindblad as his new teammate next season, as Arvid makes the step up from #F2 💨 Let’s have it! 🤘#F1 #VCARB pic.twitter.com/iC2x2TritY
— Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team (@visacashapprb) December 2, 2025
Williams
Clean (Audi)
Cadillac
MORE: F1 2025: results of all races, drivers’ and constructors’ world championships, calendar
