2026 F1 World Championship

The 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship, which the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) recognises as the pinnacle of open-wheel racing, will see drivers and teams compete in 24 Grands Prix for the prestigious World Drivers’ and World Constructors’ Championship titles.

The 2026 season introduces significant regulatory changes, including a new power unit formula and the introduction of active aerodynamics. Audi will officially enter Formula One as a factory team following its acquisition of Sauber in 2024, developing and running its proprietary power units. Cadillac will debut in Formula One, powered by Ferrari engines, becoming the series’ eleventh team—the first expansion since Haas in 2016.

Honda, via its Honda Racing Corporation subsidiary, will partner exclusively with Aston Martin, supplying bespoke power units as their previous collaboration with Red Bull Racing concludes. Meanwhile, Ford returns to Formula One after a 22-year absence, partnering with Red Bull Powertrains to supply both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls teams.

Notably, Renault will exit Formula One engine supply for the first time since 1988. Alpine, previously powered by Renault engines, will transition to Mercedes customer power units for the upcoming season.

Season

In the biggest shakeup of the sport in F1 History, there will be wide-spread regulation changes affecting the size of the cars, aerodynamics, and power units in 2026.

Power Units

New regulations governing power units will come into effect for the 2026 Formula One season. The revised power units will maintain an output of over 1,000 bhp (750 kW), though the composition of this power will shift significantly. The existing turbocharged 1.6-litre V6 internal combustion engines, used since 2014, will continue; however, the Motor Generator Unit-Heat (MGU-H) will be eliminated. Conversely, the output of the Motor Generator Unit-Kinetic (MGU-K) will significantly increase from 160 bhp (120 kW) to 470 bhp (350 kW). As a result, the combustion engine’s output will decrease from 850 bhp (630 kW) to 540 bhp (400 kW). Additionally, fuel flow rates will now be regulated based on energy content instead of fuel mass, and all power units will utilize fully sustainable fuels currently under development by Formula One. Energy recovery capabilities are anticipated to double compared to previous generations.

Car Size and Aerodynamics

On 6 June 2024, the initial concept for the 2026 cars was unveiled, highlighting notable aerodynamic and dimensional changes. Active aerodynamics will be introduced on both the front and rear wings, while the existing Drag Reduction System (DRS) will be phased out in favour of a manual override engine mode. The car’s wheelbase will be shortened from 360 cm (140 in) to 340 cm (130 in), the width reduced from 200 cm (79 in) to 190 cm (75 in), and the minimum vehicle mass lowered by 30 kg (66 lb). Tyre widths will be reduced—by 2.5 cm (0.98 in) at the front and 3.0 cm (1.2 in) at the rear. Additionally, the ground effect of the floor will be lessened to mitigate porpoising issues.

In October 2024, the FIA revised its initial aerodynamic plans, reducing the targeted downforce decrease for the 2026 cars from over 40% to approximately 15% compared to the 2022–2025 vehicles. Consequently, the projected lap-time differential was revised, making the 2026 generation about two seconds slower per lap instead of the originally anticipated four seconds.

Safety Features

Significant safety enhancements are also planned for 2026. The Front Impact Structure (FIS) will adopt a new two-stage design intended to remain attached to the survival cell even after primary collisions, providing enhanced protection against subsequent impacts. Additionally, side-intrusion protection around the cockpit and fuel cell area will be improved to better safeguard critical regions without increasing overall vehicle weight.

The strength of the roll hoop will be increased, able to withstand loads up from 16G to 20G, aligning Formula One with other single-seater racing standards. Correspondingly, load-testing requirements for the roll hoop will rise from 141 kN to 167 kN.

New lateral safety lights will be mandated to indicate the status of the Energy Recovery System (ERS) when a car stops on track, offering crucial visual warnings about potential electrical hazards to drivers, marshals, and emergency responders.

Teams

Cadillac will enter Formula One as the series’ eleventh team, marking both Cadillac’s debut in the championship and the first new team on the grid since Haas joined in 2016. Cadillac will use Ferrari-supplied power units and gearboxes. Previously, Cadillac attempted to enter Formula One in partnership with Andretti Global.

Coinciding with new engine regulations, three new engine manufacturers will join Formula One:

Audi will enter the sport by acquiring the existing Sauber team. Sauber have competed as Kick Sauber with Ferrari engines in the 2024 and 2025 seasons before transitioning into the official Audi factory team in 2026. This change positions Haas and the new entrant Cadillac as Ferrari’s two customer teams.

Ford will return to Formula One for the first time since 2004, partnering with Red Bull Powertrains. They will help supply engine knowledge and technologies to Red Bull Racing and its sister team, Racing Bulls via Red Bull Powertrains. Honda, previously aligned with Red Bull Powertrains since their partial exit in 2021, will fully separate and re-enter Formula One independently under its Honda Racing Corporation brand, supplying engines exclusively to Aston Martin. Aston Martin had been powered by Mercedes since rejoining Formula One. Honda previously collaborated with Jordan, Aston Martin’s predecessor, from 1998 to 2002.

Renault will cease engine supply to Alpine starting from 2026 due to underwhelming performance throughout the hybrid power unit era since 2014. This marks the first season without Renault or French-licensed engines since 1988. Alpine will transition from a full works team to a customer team, using Mercedes-supplied engines and gearboxes from the 2026 season onward.

Drivers

Various drivers have running contracts into 2026, but many teams are yet to announce their 2026 and beyond driver lineups. There are currently eight open seats for the season.

One of the most exciting aspects of Cadillac’s F1 journey is the speculation surrounding driver choices. Early rumours point towards experienced racers and promising young talent from IndyCar and Formula 2. Drivers like Colton Herta, a star in Andretti’s IndyCar program, and Felipe Drugovich, the 2022 Formula 2 champion, are among the top contenders rumoured for a seat. Cadillac has stressed that driver selection will prioritise performance, potential, and global marketability.

Alongside drivers from the existing Andretti stable, experienced Formula 1 race winners Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas have been linked to the new entry after losing their seats with Red Bull and Sauber, at the end of the 2024 season. The team has also expressed a strong interest in including at least one American driver in its debut lineup.

2026 F1 Pre-Season Testing

Teams will have an expanded testing schedule, comprising three separate sessions, each lasting three days. This increase in testing time is designed to accommodate the significant changes resulting from new chassis and engine regulations.

2026 F1 Entries drivers and teams

2026 Formula 1 Race Calendar

The Spanish Grand Prix will relocate from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Montmeló to a newly designed street circuit in Madrid, centered around the IFEMA Exhibition Centre. The future of the Montmeló circuit remains uncertain due to an existing contract scheduled through 2026.

The Dutch Grand Prix will adopt the sprint race format, coinciding with the organisers’ announcement that the 2026 event will mark the final edition of the race.

2026 F1 Sprint Race Calendar

The 2026 F1 Sprint Race Calendar has not been released yet.

2026 Formula 1 Race Reports

Grand Prix race reports will appear here post-race.

2026 Formula 1 Race Results

Grand Prix race results will appear here post-race.

2026 F1 Sprint Race Results

Sprint race results will appear here post-race.

2026 Formula 1 Standings

The 2026 F1 standing will appear here and be updated after each race.

2026 Driver standings

2026 Team standings