Formula 1 team rosters: Introducing the athletes poised to shine in 2026
A new season has begun with two new teams, yet the driver line-ups remain largely unchanged for 2026.
The sole newcomer is Red Bull academy driver Arvid Lindblad, who joins Racing Bulls alongside Liam Lawson. Additionally, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez return to the F1 grid.
Explore our guide and challenges for all teams as they prepare for the season opener at the Australian Grand Prix on March 8.
McLaren
Lando Norris, 26, and Oscar Piastri, 24
Following his first world title victory in 2025, Norris will undoubtedly be eager for more success. However, it was the younger competitor Piastri who led the championship for a significant portion of the season and appeared poised for the title until the final races, ultimately finishing third.
While 2025 may have left Piastri feeling disappointed, he has a new chance in 2026 to match his teammate in championships.
The partnership of Norris and Piastri is evidently a successful one for McLaren, as they secured a second consecutive constructors’ title in 2025 as early as October. They possessed the fastest car, but it remains to be seen how they will perform under the new regulations.
Despite the team’s evident success in 2025, “Papaya rules” became a focal point as the team inadvertently hindered themselves with their strategies in the name of fairness. They managed to navigate through it in the end, but anticipate more “Papaya rules” in 2026.
Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, 28, and Lewis Hamilton, 41
The collaboration between the sport’s most successful driver and the most successful team did not start off ideally in 2025. However, this was perhaps expected as Hamilton adjusted to a new team.
2026 brings renewed hope for Ferrari with a new car, updated regulations, and a new race engineer for Hamilton.
For Leclerc, the beginning of each year signifies another hopeful attempt at a championship battle before things tend to decline. As always, he will be prepared to strive for more front-row starts and race victories to place him in contention for the title; perhaps this year will be the one?
Red Bull
Max Verstappen, 28, and Isack Hadjar, 21
This year at Red Bull sees Hadjar stepping up from Racing Bulls, and once again Verstappen welcomes a new teammate.
Hadjar’s elevation follows an impressive rookie season where he accumulated 51 points and achieved his first podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Verstappen’s abilities are well-known after securing four consecutive drivers’ titles. However, Red Bull will be eager to reclaim their top position following a challenging 2025 season that resulted in a third-place finish in the constructors’ championship and second in the drivers’ championship.
Mercedes
George Russell, 27, and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, 19
Both drivers received a one-year extension from team principal Toto Wolff for 2026, and with Mercedes and George Russell positioned as the bookmakers’ favorites entering the new season, anticipation is building around the team as fans and media await their performance.
Similar to Hadjar, Antonelli enters 2026 following a strong rookie year that saw him reach the podium three times. The Italian teenager will aim to improve upon that this year and secure his long-term future in F1.
Aston Martin
Fernando Alonso, 44, and Lance Stroll, 27
Aston Martin is another team facing high expectations surrounding their new car and leadership this year.
Alonso and Stroll (son of team owner Lawrence Stroll) will work under a new boss and designer in Adrian Newey for 2026. Newey has long sought to collaborate with two-time world champion Alonso, and this year marks the first opportunity to see that partnership in action.
There have also been several other changes within the team, providing Aston Martin with a renewed focus for this new era.
Alpine
Pierre Gasly, 29, and Franco Colapinto, 22
The line-up remains unchanged at Alpine as Colapinto has been granted a second year. While Gasly serves as the team’s senior driver, the pressure will again be on Colapinto to secure points for the struggling French team.
Flavio Briatore has returned to lead Alpine (formerly Renault), and the team underwent significant changes in 2025. This year, they have partnered with Mercedes as their power unit supplier, which may help them re-enter the midfield battle.
Haas
Esteban Ocon, 29, and Oliver Bearman, 20
Haas experienced a strong year in 2025, overcoming previous struggles.
The driver and management line-up remains the same, and the team aims to build on their impressive performances in this new era.
British driver Bearman has been retained following his promising rookie season. He and Ocon appeared to form a solid partnership for the American team.
Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson, 23, and Arvid Lindblad, 18
After being released by Red Bull early in 2025, Lawson rebounded to finish strongly at Racing Bulls. This year, the New Zealander has a new teammate in Lindblad, who enters F1 as the only rookie for 2026 from the Red Bull Academy.
While Lindblad will aim to acclimate to the new car quickly, Lawson will seek to establish himself as the team’s senior driver and assess how far he can elevate his performances.
The dynamics at Racing Bulls are intriguing as drivers ultimately strive to impress Red Bull. However, with Lawson having prior experience, the future remains uncertain.
Williams
Alex Albon, 29, and Carlos Sainz, 31
The Carbono duo (Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon) proved to be a clever strategy for Williams last year, both on and off the track.
After years of struggling at the back of the grid, Williams consistently finished in the points, albeit hindered by reliability issues. It is hoped that this will improve this year with a new engine, new car, and components, allowing the drivers to continue their fight in the top 10.
Audi (formerly Sauber)
Nico Hülkenberg, 38, and Gabriel Bortoleto, 21
A new name, new brand, new engine, and a new car, yet the same team operates behind the scenes.
The Audi project appears promising as it begins its journey in F1.
It also marks a new era for the Sauber team, which, like Alpine, has faced challenges at the back of the grid in recent years.
The German team features a strong senior (and native) driver in Hülkenberg, along with a promising talent in Bortoleto, who impressed last season. Audi is a team to watch in the upcoming season.
Cadillac
Sergio Perez, 36, and Valtteri Bottas, 36
Cadillac may be a brand new team, but they boast two seasoned F1 drivers in Bottas and Perez.
Both drivers have taken a year away from F1—though Bottas was frequently seen in the paddock as Mercedes’ reserve driver—but they now face a fresh challenge and renewed focus this year.
The arrival of the Cadillac team in F1 was not without controversy, but the moment has finally arrived, and now we must wait to see how they perform on the track.
Source: espn.com
