Eleven Teams, Twenty-Two Drivers
The 2026 Formula 1 grid expanded to its largest size in a decade with the arrival of Cadillac as an eleventh team, joining Audi’s newly rebranded works entry to bring the total car count to 22 for the first time since 2016.
The Full 2026 Grid
- Mercedes: Andrea Kimi Antonelli, George Russell
- Red Bull: Max Verstappen, Isack Hadjar
- Ferrari: Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton
- McLaren: Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri
- Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll
- Williams: Carlos Sainz, Alexander Albon
- Audi: Nico Hulkenberg, Gabriel Bortoleto
- Alpine: Pierre Gasly, Franco Colapinto
- Haas: Esteban Ocon, Oliver Bearman
- Racing Bulls: Liam Lawson, Arvid Lindblad
- Cadillac: Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas
The Big Storylines Behind the Lineup
Isack Hadjar’s promotion to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull came after a strong debut season, while Arvid Lindblad arrived as the grid’s only true rookie, stepping into Hadjar’s old Racing Bulls seat. Cadillac’s arrival brought two experienced veterans back into full-time race seats, detailed further in our full breakdown of 2026’s team changes.
How Pay Compares Across the Grid
With such a wide spread of experience levels, it’s no surprise driver earnings vary enormously across the field, from established champions to rookies on entry-level deals, covered in our full salary breakdown.
Conclusion
The 2026 grid blends proven race winners with fresh faces across a genuinely expanded field. With 22 cars now competing for points most weekends, the fight even outside the top teams has rarely been more competitive, and every seat on this list carries its own story heading into the season’s final third.