The past few months have delivered sweeping changes across the world of
motorsports. A new world champion was crowned, familiar faces are set to return,
and Formula 1 enters a new era. Here’s a look at the news shaping the sport right now.
Crowned in the desert: Norris seals the deal
The streets of Abu Dhabi saw a new world champion crowned, and a team
victorious. Fresh off securing the Constructors’ Championship a few weeks earlier,
McLaren’s Lando Norris was crowned Drivers’ Champion 2025, securing the title, the
trophy, the glory, and the coveted number ‘1’ for the 2026 season. Red Bull’s Max
Verstappen finished the season in second, just two points shy of Norris, having made a spectacular comeback in the second half of the season. Despite leading the
championship battle for the majority of the season, Oscar Piastri had to settle for
third. All eyes are on the Aussie to see if he can come back stronger and more
consistent next year, and snatch the title from his teammate.
New badges, old names: the grid is growing (and rebranding!)
Formula 1 is set to expand in 2026, with Cadillac joining the grid as the 11 th team,
bringing a renewed and refined American presence to the track. Racing for Cadillac
are Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, who are set to re-debut on the track since their
departures after the 2024 season. Besides sleek new livery and the return of familiar
faces, what else will Cadillac bring to the grid?
Kick Sauber is also in the midst of a rebrand. The 2026 season will see Nico
Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto shed their iconic neon green uniform and adopt
the red and silver identity of Audi, which the team will be renamed.
Youth On The Rise: Lindblad Leads A New Generation
RB are set to introduce new talent to the team, in the form of Arvid Lindblad. After impressive performances in F3 and F2, Lindblad is set to join the grid next year as Isack Hadjar’s replacement. At 18, he will be the youngest driver on the grid, and the only rookie.
Red Bull Reset: Tsunoda Out, Hadjar In
The final race of the 2025 season marked the end of Yuki Tsunoda’s Formula 1 journey. Since joining the grid with AlphaTauri in 2021, Tsunoda has 111 race starts, and crossed the finish line for the last time at the Yas Marina circuit a couple of weeks ago. He will stay on with Red Bull as their Test and Reserve Driver, and has expressed a desire to earn his spot back on the grid in the coming years.
Replacing Tsunoda at Red Bull is Isack Hadjar, who joined the grid in 2025 as a rookie for RB. Due to his impressive performance during his first year on the grid, such as his notable third-place finish at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix, he was promoted to Red Bull to drive alongside Max Verstappen.
Also leaving Red Bull is Motorsport Advisor Helmut Marko, just a few months after Christian Horner’s swift exit. His departure follows from a tough 2025 season for Red Bull, despite Verstappen’s efforts to climb the ranks in the latter half of the season. How will the dynamic at Red Bull change as a result of these dramatic shifts in leadership?
The Final Flap: Farewell To DRS
Formula 1 has officially closed the chapter on DRS (Drag Reduction System). Since Jenson Button’s initial usage of it in 2011, DRS has been used by drivers to boost overtaking by allowing them to open a flap on the rear wing of their car, granting them a straight-line speed advantage. Its final appearance occurred at this year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, when Kimi Antonelli activated it on the final lap. From 2026, DRS will give way to new and improved systems, such as Overtake Mode, which will give drivers an electrical power boost and advanced aerodynamic abilities.
The world of motorsports stands at a pivotal moment: new champions, new teams, new technology, and a subtle reshaping of long-established norms and structures. As we slowly approach the 2026 season it is clear that the sport will never look the same again.
Written by Reo.
Edited by Alexandra.
Featured Image Credit: techradar.com
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