Pre-season testing in Bahrain kicks off the 2026 campaign. This year marks a new beginning in terms of regulations, teams, tracks and many changes to the starting grid.

New Regulation Era

Goodbye to the era of ground effect (2022-2025), the FIA presents 2026 as the new era of F1, built around the Nimble Car Concept, with cars designed to follow more closely and create more overtaking opportunities.

• DRS has been replaced by active aerodynamics with moveable front and rear wings, with drivers switching between Z-mode (standard/cornering) and X-mode (low-drag for straights).
• Smaller and lighter, a more agile car, with around 30kg lighter.
• Overtake mode, a short battery-power boost becomes the main overtaking assist when a driver is within one second of the car in front at activation points.
• Tyre tweaks, the 18-inch wheels remain the same, but the width of the tires has been reduced to lower the weight.

11th team on the grid

Cadillac makes its F1 entrance, led by team principal Graeme Lowdon, headlined by Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas. They will start with Ferrari engines, while GM’s own engine program will be approved from 2029.

Cadillac are bringing back two confirmed drivers: Pérez, who previously partnered Max Verstappen, and Bottas, who spent multiple seasons racing alongside Lewis Hamilton. Both have played the role of “solid number two” during successful periods. The question is, who will be named the number one driver ?

Sauber’s transition to Audi

Audi is officially on the grid via Sauber’s transition into the Audi project, led by former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto (head of the Audi F1 Project). The driver pairing remains unchanged from last season with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.

New Track

One of the big headlines is Madrid, which will host the Spanish Grand Prix, built around the IFEMA Madrid exhibition center. The track will use both public roads and private land. It will be approximately a 5.4 km layout with 20 corners, scheduled for September 11-13.

2026 Lineups

Isack Hadjar joins Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen, taking over the seat previously occupied by Yuki Tsunoda. Arvid Lindblad makes his F1 debut with Racing Bulls with Liam Lawson, while Yuki Tsunoda moves to a test and reserve driver role within the Red Bull Family.

• McLaren Mastercard F1 Team
  • Lando Norris
  • Oscar Piastri
• Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team
  • George Russell
  • Kimi Antonelli
• Oracle Red Bull Racing
  • Max Verstappen
  • Isack Hadjar
• Scuderia Ferrari HP
  • Charles Leclerc
  • Lewis Hamilton
• Atlassian Williams F1 Team
  • Carlos Sainz
  • Alexander Albon
• Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team
  • Liam Lawson
  • Arvid Lindblad
• Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team
  • Fernando Alonso
  • Lance Stroll
• TGR Haas F1 Team
  • Esteban Ocon
  • Oliver Bearman
• Audi Revolut F1 Team
  • Nico Hulkenberg
  • Gabriel Bortoleto
• BWT Alpine Formula One Team
  • Pierre Gasly
  • Franco Colapinto
• Cadillac Formula 1 Team
  • Sergio Pérez
  • Valtteri Bottas

2026 Schedule

Pre-season testing takes place in Bahrain across two sessions (11-13 Feb and 18-20 Feb). The season then begins with the Australian GP (6-8 March) and ends in Abu Dhabi (4-6 December). From Melbourne, the calendar moves through Asia and the Middle East, then settles in Europe with classic stops such as Monaco, Silverstone, Spa and Monza, before the final stretch across the Americas and the late-season rounds in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

You can find all of this data in our Formula-1 API Documentation, along with our widgets that allow you to follow the season closely.