With the addition that by 2026 the grid will consist of 11 teams and 22 drivers in total, the Formula 1 (F1) has already secured the next contenders for next year’s season.
Without major surprises regarding the formation of the teams, it was Real Racing the last to secure its driver structure with the departure of Yuki Tsunoda from the main team, to integrate Isack Hadjar as a teammate. Max Verstappen.
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This movement represented a second change in the structure of Racing Bullsa subsidiary team of RB and that given the departure of the Franco-Algerian, Hadjar’s spot will be used by Arvid Lindblad, who will serve as Liam Lawson’s teammate in 2026.
With the confirmed return of Sergio Perezwho will accompany Valtteri Bottas in the debut of Cadillac As the new member of the category, Formula 1 will have slight changes to its starting grid, with the other teams confirmed.
McLaren will not present changes and will compete with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, while Ferrari and Mercedes will also repeat the lineup with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in the case of the Italians and George Russell together with Kimi Antonelli with the Germans.
Aston Martin will also remain with Fernando Alonso at the helm and Lance Stroll as second driver, while Williams and Alpine will race with the four drivers they completed this year between Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon for the British and Pierre Gasly with Franco Colapinto with the French team, the Argentine being another of the last to confirm his stay in the competition.
Regarding Haas and Sauber, the Americans will keep Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon, while the team affiliated with Audi will continue its evolution process with Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto in their two cars.
With this defined squad, a total of 18 of the 20 drivers who started the 2025 season will repeat, due to the departures of Yuki Tsunoda, who will be able to finish his season with RB this Sunday, after being promoted at the beginning of the year to the Austrians’ star team, in addition to the case of Jack Doohan, who lost his seat to Franco Colapinto in Alpine at the beginning of the year.
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Transition year
After up to four drivers formally debuted in F1 in 2025, by 2026 only
there will be a rookie driver in the case of Arvid Lindblad with Racing Bulls
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