We’re only 42 days away from the 2026 Formula 1 season opener in Melbourne. The calendar will soon feature 24 grand prix of exciting racing. This excitement will be spurred by the arrival of a new team. New car regulations and changes will also contribute to the thrill.
The grid will now consist of 11 teams and 22 drivers, all competing for the Constructors’ and Drivers’ championships. So let’s look into the drivers we will watch drive in 2026:
McLaren
LANDO NORRIS
Car Number: 1 (incoming), 4 (formerly)
Entry Year: 2019
2025 Stats:
Championship Standing: 1st
Podiums: 18
Wins: 7
Points: 423
The British driver starts the new season with the most coveted racing number as he clinched the championship in the 2025 season after six years in Formula 1. Let’s see if he has what it takes to retain that number 1 this 2026.
OSCAR PIASTRI
Car Number: 81
Entry Year: 2023
2025 Stats:
Championship Standing: 3rd
Podiums: 16
Wins: 7
Points: 410
Piastri has joined the Woking team in the most explosive way possible, after winning the F2 and F3 championships back-to-back. But he has proved that he earned his place in the team. The Australian driver had a good run on the first half of the 2025 season. However, he fell off the championship fight due to different circumstances. Will he redeem himself in 2026?
Mercedes
GEORGE RUSSELL
Car Number: 63
Entry Year: 2019
2025 Stats:
Championship Standing: 4th
Podiums: 9
Wins: 2
Points: 319
Russell spent his first three years with Williams Racing before moving to Mercedes in 2022. He is now the leader of the Brackley-based team after Lewis Hamilton’s departure.
He has impressed everyone by having 2 wins and placing third in the championship in 2025. Does he finally have a stab at the championship with the new regulations?
KIMI ANTONELLI
Car Number: 12
Entry Year: 2025
2025 Stats:
Championship Standing: 7th
Podiums: 3
Wins: 0
Points: 150
Antonelli went straight up to Formula 1, bypassing F2 to drive for Mercedes. The rookie’s maiden season has had its ups and downs. He has performed well enough to keep his seat for 2026. He had three podiums, a Sprint pole in Miami, and ended the previous season strongly.
Red Bull Racing
MAX VERSTAPPEN
Car Number: 3 (incoming), 1 and 33 (previously)
Entry Year: 2015
2025 Stats:
Championship Standing: 2nd
Podiums: 15
Wins: 8
Points: 421
This is the Dutch driver’s first season without the championship after a 4-year run. He fought tooth and nail for it. In fact, he came close to winning it.
One can’t help but wonder: how will he fare in a full season without Christian Horner and Helmut Marko? But one thing’s for sure: he’s still someone to watch out for.
ISACK HADJAR
Car Number: 6
Entry Year: 2025
2025 Stats:
Championship Standing: 11th
Podiums: 1
Wins: 0
Points: 51
Autosport’s 2025 Rookie of the Year Hadjar spent his first year in Formula 1 with Racing Bulls. While there, he scored points in Japan and achieved his maiden podium in Zandvoort.
Red Bull certainly thought his performance was impressive, as they promoted the French-Algerian driver to their roster for 2026. Will he escape the second seat curse?
Scuderia Ferrari
CHARLES LECLERC
Car Number: 16
Entry Year: 2019
2025 Stats:
Championship Standing: 5th
Podiums: 7
Wins: 0
Points: 242
The Monegasque is waging his eighth campaign with the Scuderia this 2026, and his ninth year in the sport. This season has been especially tough for him and Ferrari. However, he has managed to be on the podium seven times.
LEWIS HAMILTON
Car Number: 44
Entry Year: 2007
2025 Stats:
Championship Standing: 6th
Podiums: 0
Wins: 0
Points: 156
The sport’s most successful driver is now in his second year with the most decorated team in Formula 1. His first season in red was filled with struggles. However, Hamilton tackled them with optimism. He clearly has strong belief in the team. He’s looking forward to rewriting history once again, this time with the Scuderia.
Williams
ALEX ALBON
Car Number: 23
Entry Year: 2019
2025 Stats:
Championship Standing: 8th
Podiums: 0
Wins: 0
Points: 73
The Thai driver had a rough journey at the beginning of his career. However, he has found his groove in Williams Racing. Albon has helped revive the team, which is now fifth in the Constructors’ standings.
CARLOS SAINZ JR.
Car Number: 55
Entry Year: 2007
2025 Stats:
Championship Standing: 9th
Podiums: 2
Wins: 0
Points: 64
2026 is the Spanish driver’s second year in Williams. After stints in Toro Rosso, Renault, McLaren, and Ferrari, Sainz is also helping rebuild Williams Racing. And he has definitely done that by climbing up on the podium twice in the 2025 season.
Photo Credit: F1 on X
Racing Bulls
LIAM LAWSON
Car Number: 30
Entry Year: 2025
2025 Stats:
Championship Standing: 14th
Podiums: 0
Wins: 0
Points: 38
Lawson first acted as reserve driver for Red Bull and Alpha Tauri. Then, the Kiwi replaced Daniel Ricciardo for the last six races of 2024. He was announced to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull for the 2025 season. However, he was moved back to Racing Bulls after two races. Lawson has produced a good enough performance to stay on the sister team for 2026.
ARVID LINDBLAD
Car Number: 41
Entry Year: 2026
Lindblad will be the sole rookie for the 2026 season. He has moved up to Formula 1 after delivering a solid performance in Formula 2. We’re excited to see how he will do in the pinnacle of motorsport.
Haas
ESTEBAN OCON
Car Number: 31
Entry Year: 2016
2025 Stats:
Championship Standing: 15th
Podiums: 0
Wins: 0
Points: 38
Ocon finished his maiden season in Haas in 15th place. He delivered a stable performance to stay on the team for 2026.
OLIVER BEARMAN
Car Number: 87
Entry Year: 2025
2025 Stats:
Championship Standing: 13th
Podiums: 0
Wins: 0
Points: 41
The British driver has had a good rookie season. He has produced impressive drives. Notably, he finished sixth in Zandvoort after starting from the pit lane. In Mexico, he almost reached the podium after placing fourth. He has edged his older teammate by 3 points.
Aston Martin
FERNANDO ALONSO
Car Number: 14
Entry Year: 2001
2025 Stats:
Championship Standing: 10th
Podiums: 0
Wins: 0
Points: 56
As much as people like to joke that he’s a rookie, Alonso is the most experienced driver on the grid, turning 45 years old in June. 2026 is his fourth year at Aston Martin after joining in 2023. He has incurred 56 points in the 2025 season after a string of good drives in the European races.
LANCE STROLL
Car Number: 18
Entry Year: 2017
2025 Stats:
Championship Standing: 16th
Podiums: 0
Wins: 0
Points: 33
This is now Stroll’s sixth year at Aston Martin. He has scored 33 points and placed 16th in the 2025 season. It’s exciting to see what Adrian Newey’s leadership will bring to the table for him and the rest of the team.
Alpine
PIERRE GASLY
Car Number: 10
Entry Year: 2017
2025 Stats:
Championship Standing: 18th
Podiums: 0
Wins: 0
Points: 22
Gasly scored all of Alpine’s points last season, collecting 22.
FRANCO COLAPINTO
Car Number: 43
Entry Year: 2024
2025 Stats:
Championship Standing: 20th
Podiums: 0
Wins: 0
Points: 0
The Argentine driver replaced Logan Sargeant at Williams in 2024 and then Jack Doohan at Alpine in 2025. He has retained his Alpine seat for 2026, despite not scoring any points.
Audi
NICO HULKENBERG
Car Number: 27
Entry Year: 2010
2025 Stats:
Championship Standing: 12th
Podiums: 1
Wins: 0
Points: 51
2025 might be Hulkenberg’s best year yet. He joined Sauber in 2025 as preparation for Audi’s takeover in 2026. Hulk got his first podium ever in the British Grand Prix, placing third after starting in 19th place.
GABRIEL BORTOLETO
Car Number: 5
Entry Year: 2025
2025 Stats:
Championship Standing: 19th
Podiums: 0
Wins: 0
Points: 19
2024 Formula 2 champion Bortoleto joined Sauber for the 2025 season and delivered a solid performance. His best finish was a P6 at the Hungarian Grand Prix and collected 19 points overall.
Cadillac
We have a new team, with not-so-new drivers joining us this 2026. It’s exciting to think about how Cadillac can shake up the grid, and the sport in general.
VALTERRI BOTTAS
Car Number: 77
Entry Year: 2013
Stats:
Race Starts: 246
Podiums: 67
Wins: 10
Points: 1797
The Finnish driver makes a return to Formula 1 after a year, joining Cadillac. In 2025, he was a test driver for McLaren and Williams, and a reserve driver for his old team, Mercedes.
SERGIO PEREZ
Car Number: 44
Entry Year: 2011
Stats:
Race Starts: 281
Podiums: 39
Wins: 6
Points: 1638
Perez is coming back to the grid after a year of rest and a tumultuous stint at Red Bull Racing. He has said that driving for Cadillac is “an incredibly exciting new chapter in [his] career,” and “a huge responsibility, one [he was] confident of taking on.”
With car launches and exhibitions already happening, the 2026 season is already shaping up to be exciting. Lots of questions will finally be answered. How will the new team fare? How will the new regulations affect all of the teams and drivers? Can Norris defend his title, or will someone else be the champion in 2026?
We can’t wait to find out.
Jo
Writes about drivers going around in weird circles. Women have a place in motorsports.
Featured image credit: msn.com
Edited by Alexandra.
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