Following a dramatic climax to the 2025 championship, the Formula 1 world is already looking ahead to a transformative 2026 season. While Max Verstappen took victory in Abu Dhabi, it was Lando Norris who secured his maiden drivers' title with a podium finish, becoming the first British champion since Lewis Hamilton's first title in 2008 and McLaren's first since that same year.
The 2026 F1 Race Calendar: A 24-Race Global Tour
The new campaign is set to launch on March 6 with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, following three pre-season tests in Barcelona and Bahrain. The season will once again comprise 24 races, with one significant alteration: the historic Imola Grand Prix makes way for a new street circuit event in Madrid.
The confirmed 2026 F1 calendar is as follows:
- Australia – March 6-8
- China – March 13-15 (sprint weekend)
- Japan – March 27-29
- Bahrain – April 10-12
- Saudi Arabia – April 17-19
- Miami – May 1-3 (sprint weekend)
- Canada – May 22-24 (sprint weekend)
- Monaco – June 5-7
- Barcelona – June 12-14
- Austria – June 26-28
- Great Britain – July 3-5 (sprint weekend)
- Belgium – July 17-19
- Hungary – July 24-26
- Netherlands – August 21-23 (sprint weekend)
- Italy – September 4-6
- Madrid – September 11-13
- Azerbaijan – September 25-27
- Singapore – October 9-11 (sprint weekend)
- Austin – October 23-25
- Mexico – October 30 – November 1
- Brazil – November 6-8
- Las Vegas – November 19-21
- Qatar – November 27-29
- Abu Dhabi – December 4-6
New Teams and a Reshuffled 2026 Driver Grid
The 2026 grid will expand to eleven teams with the highly anticipated arrival of Cadillac. The American manufacturer has confirmed an experienced driver pairing of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, both of whom sat out the 2025 season.
Furthermore, Sauber's transformation into a full factory team is complete, with the squad now officially racing as Audi. The driver market has seen significant movement, most notably at Red Bull. Isack Hadjar earns a promotion to partner Max Verstappen at the senior team, following a standout year with sister squad Racing Bulls.
His seat at Racing Bulls will be taken by promising 18-year-old British rookie Arvid Lindblad, promoted directly from Formula 2. This reshuffle leaves Yuki Tsunoda without a race seat, moving to a test and reserve role at Red Bull.
The full 2026 F1 driver line-up is confirmed as:
- McLaren – Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris
- Ferrari – Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc
- Red Bull – Max Verstappen, Isack Hadjar
- Mercedes – George Russell, Kimi Antonelli
- Williams – Alex Albon, Carlos Sainz
- Audi (Sauber) – Nico Hulkenberg, Gabriel Bortoleto
- Aston Martin – Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll
- Alpine – Pierre Gasly, Franco Colapinto
- Haas – Esteban Ocon, Oliver Bearman
- Racing Bulls – Liam Lawson, Arvid Lindblad
- Cadillac – Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas
Sweeping Technical Regulation Changes for 2026
The 2026 season will introduce the most radical technical overhaul in recent years, designed to create closer racing and a new performance challenge. The cars themselves will be noticeably different, becoming lighter by 30kg (to 768kg) and smaller, with 200mm lopped off the length and 100mm off the width.
The new power units represent a major shift towards electrification, with a 300% increase in electrical power leading to a 50-50 split between electric power and the internal combustion engine.
Perhaps the most visible change for fans will be the removal of the Drag Reduction System (DRS). It will be replaced by two new manual overtaking aids: 'Z-mode' and 'X-mode'. 'Z-mode' adjusts front and rear wing elements to boost downforce and speed through corners, while 'X-mode' is designed to minimise drag for maximum straight-line speed. The FIA hopes these active systems will generate more overtaking opportunities than the previous DRS format.
With a new champion to chase, fresh faces on the grid, and revolutionary new cars, the 2026 Formula 1 season is poised to be a landmark chapter in the sport's history.
