The 2026 season will represent a major turning point for Formula 1. With a new technical era, sweeping power unit changes, and the arrival of Cadillac as a brand-new entry, the grid will expand to 11 teams. From established powerhouses to rebuilding projects, this is how the full championship line-up shapes up.

McLaren head into 2026 from a position of strength. The reigning Teams’ Champions enter their 61st Formula 1 season with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri starting a fourth year as team mates under the continued leadership of Andrea Stella. With 203 race wins in their history, McLaren are targeting a third consecutive Teams’ title for the first time since 1990, while Norris prepares to defend his maiden Drivers’ Championship.

Mercedes continue to prioritize stability. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli remain together, with Toto Wolff overseeing the operation for a 14th consecutive season. After dominating the hybrid era with eight straight Teams’ Championships between 2014 and 2021, a P2 finish in 2025 suggests steady recovery, even if full dominance remains elusive.

Red Bull enter their 22nd season with notable changes. Max Verstappen, champion four times in a row from 2021 to 2024, will look to reclaim the title after losing out to Norris in 2025. He will be partnered by Isack Hadjar, promoted from Racing Bulls, while Laurent Mekies begins his first full campaign as Team Principal following his appointment in 2025.

Ferrari, the only team to have competed in every F1 season since 1950, approach 2026 under pressure. With Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton continuing as the driver pairing and Fred Vasseur at the helm, the Scuderia are coming off a winless 2025 and fourth place in the Teams’ standings. Their legacy of 15 Drivers’ and 16 Teams’ titles only heightens expectations.

Williams arrive with cautious optimism after securing P5 in 2025, including two podiums from Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard stays alongside Alex Albon, as James Vowles continues the revival of a team that boasts nine Teams’ Championships and is aiming to cement its return to competitiveness.

Racing Bulls field one of the youngest line-ups on the grid. Liam Lawson is joined by Arvid Lindblad, the 18-year-old rookie who finished sixth in the 2025 Formula 2 Championship. With Alan Permane as Team Principal, the former Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri outfit remains focused on long-term development.

Aston Martin look to reset after two inconsistent seasons. Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll enter their fourth year together, while the biggest headline comes from the pit wall: Adrian Newey will take over as Team Principal, a move that reshapes expectations following a seventh-place finish in 2025.

Haas prepare for their 11th Formula 1 campaign seeking momentum. Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman continue as team mates under Ayao Komatsu, after the American team finished eighth last season and showed flashes of progress.

Audi will officially debut as a works team following the rebrand of Kick Sauber. Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto remain together, with Jonathan Wheatley leading the operation. After a ninth-place finish in 2025, the spotlight is firmly on how quickly Audi can make an impact under the new regulations.

Alpine enter 2026 after a difficult year that saw them end 2025 at the bottom of the standings. Pierre Gasly begins his fourth season with the team, again partnered by Franco Colapinto. A major shift comes on the technical side, as Alpine switch to Mercedes power units, with Steve Nielsen continuing as Managing Director.

Cadillac completes the expanded grid as the 11th team, becoming the first all-new entry since Haas in 2016. Led by Graeme Lowdon, the American outfit has opted for experience with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez. While General Motors works toward producing its own power unit, Cadillac will run Ferrari engines and gearboxes in 2026, laying the foundation for a long-term Formula 1 project.

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