F1 2026: An Introduction to the Teams & Drivers on the Grid This Season

An introduction to the teams and drivers that we’ll see in the paddocks this 2026 F1 season.

While it can partially be credited to Netflix’s highly popular ‘Drive to Survive’ series, the sport has also hugely benefitted from the drivers’ roles as brand ambassadors, the high-octane lifestyle associated with the races, and even the WAGs. With the season just beginning, we’re cramming in all our Formula 1 (F1) homework, so we’re prepared for everything that it might will throw at us! We’ve got new cars, new teams, new regulations, and one new driver to get familiar with, so if you’re a fan—seasoned or freshly inducted—our refresher on the 2026 F1 season might do you some good.

For this part of our F1 2026 series, we introduce you to the people who you’ll see in the paddocks and the stars of the show itself. There are a total of 11 teams on the grid this year, bringing the total number of drivers (and cars) to 22. Each team has to produce two identical cars that are subject to regulations to ensure fairness and safety. This year, the grid also welcomes a new team, Cadillac, whereas the Stake F1 Team enters a new era under the Audi F1 Team name. Here’s a quick introduction to the teams, the drivers, and the cars they’ll be fielding on the tracks this 2026 F1 season. 

MCLAREN

The reigning Constructors’ World Champions and home to last year’s Drivers’ World Champion, Lando Norris, McLaren is one of the more seasoned teams on the grid, having been in the competition since 1966. They are officially known as McLaren Mastercard F1 Team and are famous for their iconic “papaya” orange colour. With names like Ayrton Senna, Emerson Fittipaldi, and, now, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris on their team sheets, it is no wonder that they’ve been serious contenders for the top prize year after year. Norris also goes into the season with a freshly minted #1 as the result of his first-place finish in last year’s campaign.

Drivers: Lando Norris (#1) & Oscar Piastri (#81)

Reserve drivers: Leonardo Fornaroli & Pato O’Ward

Team chief: Andrea Stella

Technical chief: Peter Prodromou & Neil Houldey

Previous year’s standings: 

• F1 Constructors’ World Championships: First 
• F1 World Drivers’ Championships: Lando Norries – First | Oscar Piastri – Third

F1 Constructors’ World Championships won: 10

F1 World Drivers’ Championships won: 13

Chassis: MCL40

Kit partner: Puma

MERCEDES

One of the most iconic teams on the grid, the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team is entering its 17th modern season on the grid. They’ve been a major contender in the races since its first team entry in 1970 with names like Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, and Nico Rosberg on their roster. Now, team leader George Russell and second-year driver Kimi Antonelli take the wheel as a formidable duo on the tracks under the watchful eye of Toto Wolff and company.

Drivers: George Russell (#63) & Kimi Antonelli (#12)

Reserve driver: Fred Vesti

Team chief: Toto Wolff

Technical chief: James Allison

Previous year’s standings: 

• F1 Constructors’ World Championships: Second 
• F1 World Drivers’ Championships: George Russell – Fourth | Kimi Antonelli – Seventh

F1 Constructors’ World Championships won: Eight

F1 World Drivers’ Championships won: Nine

Chassis: W17

Kit partner: Adidas

RED BULL RACING 

Formidable and bold on the tracks, Red Bull Racing is home to four-time Championship winner Max Verstappen and second-year driver Isack Hadjar, who recently got promoted from their counterpart team Racing Bulls. The team, who made their team debut in 1997, earned their first podium in 2006 and never looked back. With Sebastien Vettel in the hotseat, they earned four double wins in a row from 2009 to 2014, cementing the team as a force to be reckoned with on and off the tracks. 

Drivers: Max Verstappen (#3) & Isack Hadjar (#6)

Team chief: Laurent Mekies

Technical chief: Pierre Waché

Previous year’s standings: 

• F1 Constructors’ World Championships: Third 
• F1 World Drivers’ Championships: Max Verstappen – Second | Isack Hadjar – Twelfth (Racing Bulls)

F1 Constructors’ World Championships won: Six

F1 World Drivers’ Championships won: Eight

Chassis: RB22

Kit partner: Castore

FERRARI

If there is one team that is pretty much synonymous with Formula 1, it’s Ferrari. Bringing new meaning to “seeing red”, the Rosso Scuderia-hued team is the only one to have competed in every single season since the world championship began. Its driver’s seats have been occupied by the likes of Niki Lauda and Michael Schumacher, with the latter winning five consecutive title doubles and securing the team’s title as the most successful and decorated team in sport’s history. In 2026, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will take the circuits as the Ferrari duo for a second year together. 

Drivers: Charles Leclerc (#16) & Lewis Hamilton (#44)

Reserve driver: Antonio Giovinazzi

Team chief: Frédéric Vasseur

Technical chief: Loic Serra & Enrico Gualtieri

Previous year’s standings: 

• F1 Constructors’ World Championships: Fourth
• F1 World Drivers’ Championships: Charles Leclerc – Fifth | Lewis Hamilton – Sixth

F1 Constructors’ World Championships won: 16

F1 World Drivers’ Championships won: 15

Chassis: SF-26

Kit partner: Puma

WILLIAMS

One of the most storied teams in the paddock, Williams is a team that runs on pure racing passion. The team was founded by Sir Frank Williams, who enlisted the help of his family members to help steer the ship until the 2020 sale of the team to Dorilton Capital. Throughout its years on the tracks, Williams has seen both the top of the podiums and tough campaigns. This year, Alex Albon, Carlos Sainz, and the team will return to the circuit a renewed drive and determination to recreate its glory days. 

Drivers: Carlos Sainz (#55) & Alex Albon (#23)

Team chief: James Vowles

Technical chief: Pat Fry

Previous year’s standings: 

• F1 Constructors’ World Championships: Fifth
• F1 World Drivers’ Championships: Carlos Sainz – Ninth | Alex Albon – Eighth

F1 Constructors’ World Championships won: Nine

F1 World Drivers’ Championships won: Seven

Chassis: FW48

Kit partner: New Era

RACING BULLS

Initially introduced as a “development” team for the younger talents in the Red Bull roster, Racing Bulls has grown to become quite the force in the paddock and tracks. They’ve been through a number of name changes, originally dubbed Toro Rosso, then AlphaTauri, then RB. F1 legend Sebastien Vettel was a product of its garages and this year, in its 20th year since its establishment, Liam Lawson and the season’s sole rookie, Arvid Lindblad will be giving the other 10 teams a run for their money. 

Drivers: Liam Lawson (#30) & Arvid Lindblad (#41)

Reserve driver: Yuki Tsunoda

Team chief: Alan Permane

Technical chief: Tim Goss

Previous year’s standings: 

• F1 Constructors’ World Championships: Sixth
• F1 World Drivers’ Championships: Liam Lawson – Fourteenth

F1 Constructors’ World Championships won: Zero

F1 World Drivers’ Championships won: Zero

Chassis: VCARB 03

Kit partner: HUGO

ASTON MARTIN

One of the most famous names in the motoring world as a whole, Aston Martin enters the 2026 season with a hunger for the podium. Prior to its 2021 rebranding, the team was known as Racing Point, which had the likes of Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Pérez in its seats. Team principal Adrian Newey arrived in 2025 and since then, they’ve been laser-focused on making the most out of their cars. Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso return for their fourth year as a pair this year. 

Drivers: Fernando Alonso (#14) & Lance Stroll (#18)

Reserve driver: Jak Crawford

Team chief: Adrian Newey

Technical chief: Enrico Cardile 

Previous year’s standings: 

• F1 Constructors’ World Championships: Seventh
• F1 World Drivers’ Championships: Fernando Alonso – Tenth | Lance Stroll – Sixteenth

F1 Constructors’ World Championships won: Zero

F1 World Drivers’ Championships won: Zero

Chassis: AMR26

Kit partner: Puma

HAAS F1 TEAM

Based in Kannapolis, North Carolina, Haas F1 Team is one of just two US-based teams in the 2026 season—the other being newcomers Cadillac. This year marks the team’s tenth year on the grid, where it is still battling for top tier positions. With each passing season, the team shows great strength and promise with impressive performances and final finishes, including a fourth place result in Mexico in 2025. In this year’s VF-26, we’ll see Oliver Bearman in his second F1 season alongside Esteban Ocon who takes on his eighth full season. 

Drivers: Esteban Ocon (#31) & Oliver Bearman (#87)

Reserve driver: Ryo Hirakawa

Team chief: Ayao Komatsu

Technical chief: Andrea De Zordo

Previous year’s standings: 

• F1 Constructors’ World Championships: Eighth
• F1 World Drivers’ Championships: Esteban Ocon – Fifteenth | Oliver Bearman – Thirteenth

F1 Constructors’ World Championships won: Zero

F1 World Drivers’ Championships won: Zero

Chassis: VF-26

Kit partner: Castore

AUDI

Audi is a name just about every motorhead in the world would recognise, being one of the biggest brands in the luxury vehicles landscape. It got its beginnings in the sport as a power unit supplier back in 2022 and its presence eventually grew. This year marks the German automotive manufacturer’s first-ever foray into the Formula 1 universe with its acquisition of Sauber. With names like Mattia Binotto and Jonathan Wheatley behind the team, we can expect relentless driving from Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg in the 2026 F1 season. 

Drivers: Nico Hulkenberg (#27) & Gabriel Bortoleto (#5)

Team chief: Jonathan Wheatley

Technical chief: James Key

Previous year’s standings: 

• F1 Constructors’ World Championships: Ninth (as Kick Sauber)
• F1 World Drivers’ Championships: Nico Hulkenberg – Eleventh | Gabriel Bortoleto – Nineteenth

F1 Constructors’ World Championships won: Zero

F1 World Drivers’ Championships won: Zero

Chassis: R26

Kit partner: Adidas

ALPINE

Despite carrying a relatively new name, Alpine holds decades of racing legacy within its stories. The team is the result of Renault’s 2021 rebrand that really began in 2016 when it took over the Lotus team. In F1 2026, we’ll see Pierre Gasly pair up with Franco Colapinto for the second season in a row. We can expect to see them fight for top ten finishes and more consistent performances with well-known name Flavio Briatore as acting team principal. 

Drivers: Pierre Gasly (#10) & Franco Colapinto (#43)

Reserve drivers: Jack Doohan, Paul Aron & Kush Maini 

Team chief: Flavio Briatore

Technical chief: David Sanchez

Previous year’s standings: 

• F1 Constructors’ World Championships: Tenth
• F1 World Drivers’ Championships: Pierre Gasly – Eighteenth | Franco Colapinto – Twentieth

F1 Constructors’ World Championships won: Two (as Renault) 

F1 World Drivers’ Championships won: Two (as Renault)

Chassis: A526

Kit partner: Castore

CADILLAC

The grid expands to eleven with the debut of Cadillac. Bringing one of the most famous names in the American motoring industry to the grid, they may be the newest team here, but drivers Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas are among the most experienced in the lineup, with over 500 race starts to their names. With both Pérez and Bottas returning to the drivers’ seats after some time away from the tracks, giving fans much to look forward to this 2026 F1 season.

Drivers: Sergio Pérez (#11) & Valtteri Bottas (#77)

Reserve driver: Zhou Guanyu

Team chief: Graeme Lowdon

Technical chief: Nick Chester

Chassis: MAC-26

Kit partner: Tommy Hilfiger

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