What’s subsequent season’s driver line-up in Method 1?

The 2025 Method 1 season shouldn't be but over however speak is already strife for subsequent 12 months, which is ready to be one of many largest within the championship's historical past.

It would debut the forthcoming regulation change with automobiles set to turn out to be lighter and smaller with an even bigger emphasis on electrical energy.

There can even be a brand new workforce added to the equation, as American outfit Cadillac will turn out to be F1's eleventh squad and its preparation for the 2026 marketing campaign has been effectively documented.

That has included its driver line-up, with Cadillac being one among one among 9 groups to have confirmed its pairing for 2026 after Alpine not too long ago confirmed Franco Colapinto's contract renewal.

So, right here is how the F1 grid at the moment appears for subsequent season.

F1 2026 driver line-up

Alpine 2026 F1 drivers

• Pierre Gasly: Contracted till the tip of 2028
• Franco Colapinto: Contracted till the tip of 2026

Alpine is effectively on the right track for its worst-ever end in an F1 season, as it's backside of the constructors' standings after many comings-and-goings on the workforce. It began the 12 months with Pierre Gasly and rookie Jack Doohan, however the 22-year-old was dropped simply six rounds in having not scored some extent and suffered avoidable crashes in Japan and Australia. 

Doohan was subsequently changed by reserve driver Colapinto, who had joined Alpine following his nine-round stint with Williams on the finish of 2024. The 22-year-old Argentine hasn't fared a lot better than Doohan although, as he's additionally with out a level however nonetheless signed for subsequent season with the French outfit believing in his potential.

When Colapinto's renewal was introduced, Alpine govt advisor Flavio Briatore acknowledged that the workforce surroundings hasn't precisely allowed his younger driver to flourish. There's been varied modifications in administration, whereas the automotive hasn't been upgraded since June with earlier updates additionally not working as meant.

Regardless of all of that, veteran Gasly believes in Alpine's potential and that was proven in September when the grand prix winner signed a brand new contract that takes him till the tip of 2028, after becoming a member of the squad at first of 2023. 

Aston Martin 2026 F1 drivers

• Fernando Alonso: Contracted till the tip of 2026
• Lance Stroll: Rolling contract

Aston Martin is ready to begin its fourth consecutive season with the identical driver pairing, as Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are each signed for the 2026 marketing campaign. Alonso, who joined in 2023, is contracted till the tip of subsequent season and what he does past is at the moment a sizzling matter given the Spaniard is 44-years-old and not in his prime. 

Retirement is doubtlessly on the playing cards, however a number of that is dependent upon how aggressive Aston Martin is in 2026 and there's perception that it will likely be given the signing of legendary designer Adrian Newey, plus Honda becoming a member of as its engine provider.

A superb season could be very a lot wanted as a result of Aston Martin has been firmly planted within the midfield the previous couple years, failing to kick on from its sturdy begin to 2023 when Alonso scored six podiums within the opening eight grands prix.

Stroll, who joined the squad in 2019 when it was often known as Racing Level, continues to be on the lookout for his first podium since 2020 however his future is safer than that of his team-mate. Given his father Lawrence owns the squad, Lance successfully has a contract for so long as he desires. 

Audi 2026 F1 drivers

• Nico Hulkenberg: Contracted till the tip of 2026
• Gabriel Bortoleto: Contracted till the tip of 2026

Audi will full its full takeover of Sauber when it makes its F1 debut subsequent 12 months. It would achieve this with the identical driver pairing at the moment on the Swiss outfit, with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto set to begin their second season as team-mates after each joined in 2025.

They've been key to the huge enhancements seen at Sauber this 12 months, after it solely scored 4 factors within the 2024 marketing campaign. Hulkenberg, for instance, lastly claimed an F1 podium by taking third on the British Grand Prix and is on the right track for his highest factors tally for the reason that 2018 season with Renault.

Bortoleto, in the meantime, has impressed throughout his rookie marketing campaign and though he solely has about half his team-mate's factors tally, the 21-year-old has a greater qualifying report. Each are contracted till the tip of 2026 and proper now there's no motive for Sauber/Audi to wish to change it heading into 2027.

Cadillac 2026 F1 drivers

• Sergio Perez: Contracted till the tip of 2027
• Valtteri Bottas: Contracted till the tip of 2027

Cadillac has chosen an skilled pairing for its debut season, as F1 veterans Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas will race for the American outfit. It's understood that they're each signed to two-year contracts, with an choice for a 3rd, efficiency associated.

Each Perez and Bottas actually have factors to show. Perez was dropped by Crimson Bull on the finish of 2024, following a poor run of type that noticed him end eighth within the championship whereas team-mate Max Verstappen gained his fourth title. Bottas, in the meantime, didn't have his contract renewed by Sauber having not scored some extent final season.

That didn't fear Cadillac although, as CEO Dan Towriss revealed that the pair's expertise, a mixed 527 grand prix begins and 16 wins, is a giant plus for a start-up squad. It was then introduced shortly afterwards that former IndyCar star Colton Herta will assist the pair as a reserve, with Simon Pagenaud, Pietro Fittipaldi and Charlie Eastwood all signed as simulator drivers. 

Ferrari 2026 F1 drivers

• Charles Leclerc: Multi-year contract
• Lewis Hamilton: Contracted till the tip of 2026

The 2025 F1 season has not been the marketing campaign Ferrari hoped for, having didn't kick on from its runner-up end to McLaren final 12 months. Ferrari is but to win a grand prix, has solely scored seven Sunday podiums with the one spotlight being Lewis Hamilton's dash win in Shanghai.

China-aside, it has additionally been a disappointing debut season at Ferrari for Hamilton, because the seven-time world champion is sixth within the championship and has been recurrently crushed by team-mate Charles Leclerc.

Hamilton continues to be signed for subsequent 12 months although, as he has typically burdened that it takes time to adapt to a brand new workforce as a result of the SF-25 hasn't precisely been constructed to his liking. He subsequently hopes to place his “DNA” on subsequent 12 months's automotive when the brand new laws kick in and he'll as soon as once more do it alongside Leclerc.

Leclerc has raced for Ferrari since 2019 and he's signed on a multi-year foundation, with the 28-year-old not too long ago confirming that he's solely focused on successful his maiden world title on the Scuderia. 

Haas 2026 F1 drivers

• Esteban Ocon: Contracted till the tip of 2026
• Oliver Bearman: Contracted till the tip of 2026

Haas, like Sauber, began the 2025 season with an all-new pairing that consisted of 1 veteran and one rookie. The 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix winner Esteban Ocon joined from Alpine, whereas Oliver Bearman graduated from F2 for his first, full season on the high. 

Each have impressed as effectively as a result of Haas has outscored its factors tally of 58 from final 12 months, even when it would end in a decrease place as a result of elevated competitors.

The apparent spotlight is Mexico, the place Bearman completed fourth and was working in a podium place for a lot of the competition, whereas Ocon has additionally delivered, having scored fifth in China. They are going to be Haas team-mates once more subsequent 12 months, however what occurs past 2026 continues to be unknown. 

McLaren 2026 F1 drivers

• Lando Norris: Multi-year contract
• Oscar Piastri: Multi-year contract

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are each on long-term contracts at McLaren, which has loved a major upturn in the previous few years. When Piastri joined as a rookie in 2023, the workforce had simply completed fifth within the 2022 championship and began the next season poorly with no factors within the opening two rounds.

However mid-season updates modified McLaren's fortunes, finally resulting in it ending its 26-year constructors' championship drought by claiming the 2024 title. The Woking squad can also be in good place to finish its 17-year drivers' championship drought with Norris and Piastri at the moment high two within the 2025 standings. 

They've each been key to McLaren's transformation and with them nonetheless younger, Norris is 25 and Piastri is 24, it's comprehensible that they're signed to long-term offers as they every chase their maiden title.

Norris signed his most up-to-date renewal in January 2024, when it was introduced as a ‘multi-year deal' that's prone to run till the tip of 2027. Piastri, in the meantime, put pen to paper in March 2025 along with his ‘multi-year' contract anticipated to run out in 2028. 

Mercedes 2026 F1 drivers

• George Russell: Multi-year contract
• Andrea Kimi Antonelli: Contracted till the tip of 2026

Mercedes dominated the 2026 F1 driver market after George Russell revealed in early summer time that the Silver Arrows had been chatting with Verstappen's camp concerning his future plans. There was thus debate over whether or not the four-time world champion would make the soar from Crimson Bull, and whether or not he would substitute Russell or Andrea Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes.

Though Verstappen's contract runs till the tip of 2028, it's understood that there have been varied exit clauses that had triggers across the 2025 summer time break with one regarding his championship place. For instance, if he wasn't within the high three by that time then he may very well be freed up, however fourth in Spa ended that chance.

So as soon as that occurred, Verstappen lastly dedicated to Crimson Bull for 2026 which made it clear that Russell and Antonelli would stay with the German producer. That was confirmed in October, with Russell signed to a multi-year deal whereas Antonelli's future past 2026 continues to be unknown.

The 19-year-old has endured a really inconsistent rookie marketing campaign, as his dash pole in Miami and Canada podium has been mired by a number of offs. Antonelli's potential continues to be clear to see, whereas Russell has been close to faultless this 12 months as he's fourth within the standings with victories in Montreal and Singapore.

Racing Bulls 2026 F1 drivers

Racing Bulls is one among two groups but to substantiate their driver line-ups for the 2026 F1 marketing campaign, with sister outfit Crimson Bull being the opposite. Helmut Marko beforehand stated that the organisation was aiming to substantiate each pairings by the tip of October, however Verstappen's sudden late title problem prompted Crimson Bull to delay it till December.

It's nonetheless anticipated that Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar will likely be promoted right into a Crimson Bull seat, after a powerful rookie season that has included a podium at Zandvoort leaving him within the high 10 of the championship. 

Hadjar has typically crushed team-mate Liam Lawson, who began the 12 months with Crimson Bull however was dropped after simply two race weekends. Though it's not but confirmed, the New Zealander is anticipated to stick with Racing Bulls subsequent 12 months and companion present F2 racer Arvid Lindblad, who has been a Crimson Bull junior since 2022. 

Crimson Bull 2026 F1 drivers

• Max Verstappen: Contracted till the tip of 2028
• TBC

Verstappen is ready for his eleventh season at Crimson Bull after making his race-winning debut on the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix. The 28-year-old has loved an extremely profitable run throughout that point, with 4 world titles, 68 grand prix victories and quite a few report breakings. 

Following his maiden championship in 2021, Verstappen signed his present deal which takes him till the tip of 2028 with it clear that every little thing at Crimson Bull is constructed round him. That has had a knock-on impact concerning his team-mates although, with Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Perez, Lawson and now Yuki Tsunoda all having struggled since Daniel Ricciardo's shock departure on the finish of 2018.

Tsunoda was signed as Lawson's alternative for spherical three of 2025 after 4 years on the sister workforce, however has confronted comparable struggles with the difficult-to-drive RB21. The 25-year-old is seventeenth within the championship – Verstappen is third – with simply 28 factors and his future is below extreme doubt. As Hadjar and Lindblad are each anticipated to obtain promotions, with Lawson prone to keep the place he's, it seems as if the writing is on the wall for Tsunoda's F1 profession.

Williams 2026 F1 drivers

• Alex Albon: Contracted till the tip of 2026
• Carlos Sainz: Contracted till the tip of 2026

The whole lot is extra secure at Williams, nevertheless, which is ready to proceed with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz into 2026. Albon joined at first of 2022 with a damaged fame following his Crimson Bull struggles and an F1 sabbatical in 2021, however the Thai-Briton has since established himself as a really stable F1 driver main Williams to the entrance of the midfield.

The 2025 season has arguably been his greatest but, as he's eighth within the championship with constant level scores and is forward of new-for-2025 team-mate Sainz. Sainz, who has gained 4 grands prix, joined after Ferrari changed him with Hamilton and has had an up-and-down 12 months, maybe not delivering on what was initially anticipated.

Though he's not been fairly as constant as Albon, Sainz does have a podium to boast having completed third in Baku and will enhance subsequent 12 months when he has a automotive that was constructed along with his enter. Each drivers are contracted till the tip of 2026.

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– The Autosport.com Staff