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. 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.

With F1 ditching the current Drag Reduction System (DRS) in favor of active aerodynamics—movable front and rear wings designed to boost overtaking and on-track excitement- drivers will have two aerodynamic modes at their disposal:

• Z-Mode (Cornering Mastery): Adjusts wing angles for higher downforce and improved grip through corners.
• X-Mode (Top Speed): Flattens the wings to reduce drag, maximizing speed on straights.

While drivers will control when to switch modes, usage will be restricted to FIA-approved safe zones, typically long straights lasting over three seconds. This shift places a greater emphasis on driver skill and strategy, ushering in a new era in which overtaking becomes a more tactical, calculated art.

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

In 2026, Formula 1 introduced the Madrid Grand Prix as the closing event of the sport’s uninterrupted European leg. Set for 11–13 September, the new race marked Madrid’s debut on the calendar and took over from the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, while the total number of races remained unchanged at 24.

The addition of Madrid was part of a wider effort to optimise logistics and lower carbon emissions across the season. Among the reshuffled dates, the Canadian Grand Prix moved from its usual early June slot to 22–24 May. This shift moved it directly after the Miami Grand Prix, scheduled for 1–3 May, allowing teams to streamline freight movement between the two North American events.

Meanwhile, the Monaco Grand Prix was pushed back and would now take place on 5–7 June, filling the space left vacant by Canada’s rescheduling. These calendar adjustments were aimed at improving transport efficiency throughout the season.

Following the Monaco Grand Prix during the first weekend of June, the Formula 1 calendar stayed within Europe until the Madrid round, before shifting continents once more for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, scheduled for 25–27 September, which began the final international leg of the season.

These scheduling adjustments aligned with F1’s updated regulations, which now require the use of fully sustainable, 100% renewable fuels in the new generation of engines.

The campaign kicked off in Melbourne, Australia, from 6–8 March. Bahrain, traditionally the season opener in recent years, would instead be staged in April to accommodate the timing of Ramadan. It was closely followed by the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix just one week later.

Notably, there was a change in the early part of the calendar: after Australia, there would now be a two-week gap between the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix in March, offering more breathing room compared to the tighter one-week turnaround seen in the 2025 season.

The British Grand Prix at Silverstone was confirmed for 3–5 July. Meanwhile, the Dutch Grand Prix would make its final appearance on the calendar, taking place at Zandvoort from 21–23 August.

Barcelona continued to host the Spanish Grand Prix, holding its usual mid-June spot on 12–14 June as it completed the final year of its current contract.

The season concluded with two sets of back-to-back triple headers. The first trio begins with the US Grand Prix in Austin from 23–25 October, followed by stops in Mexico and Brazil. The final stretch starts with the Las Vegas Grand Prix from 19–21 November, proceeding to Qatar and culminating in Abu Dhabi from 4–6 December, which wrapped up the championship.

2026 F1 Sprint Race Calendar

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

2026 Formula 1 Race Reports

Round 1: Australian Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 8 March, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Albert Park
Laps: 58
Circuit length: 5.278km
2025 winner: Lando Norris

Round 2: Chinese Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 15 March, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Shanghai International Circuit
Laps: 56
Circuit length: 5.451km
2025 winner: Oscar Piastri

Round 3: Japanese Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 29 March, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Suzuka International Racing Course
Laps: 53
Circuit length: 5.807km
2025 winner: Max Verstappen

Round 4: Bahrain Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 12 April, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Bahrain International Circuit
Laps: 57
Circuit length: 5.412km
2025 winner: Oscar Piastri

Round 5: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 19 April, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Jeddah Corniche Circuit
Laps: 50
Circuit length: 6.174km
2025 winner: Oscar Piastri

Round 6: Miami Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 3 May, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Miami International Autodrome
Laps: 57
Circuit length: 5.412km
2025 winner: Oscar Piastri

Round 7: Canadian Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 24 May, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve
Laps: 70
Circuit length: 4.361km
2025 winner: TBC

Round 8: Monaco Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 7 June, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Circuit de Monaco
Laps: 78
Circuit length: 3.337km
2025 winner: Lando Norris

Round 9: Spanish Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 14 June, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Laps: 66
Circuit length: 4.675km
2025 winner: Oscar Piastri

Round 10: Austrian Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 28 June, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Red Bull Ring
Laps: 71
Circuit length: 4.318km
2025 winner: TBC

Round 11: British Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 5 July, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Silverstone Circuit
Laps: 52
Circuit length: 5.891km
2025 winner: TBC

Round 12: Belgian Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 19 July, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Laps: 44
Circuit length: 7.004km
2025 winner: TBC

Round 13: Hungarian Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 26 July, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Hungaroring
Laps: 70
Circuit length: 4.381km
2025 winner: TBC

Round 14: Dutch Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 23 August, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Circuit Zandvoort
Laps: 72
Circuit length: 4.259km
2025 winner: TBC

Round 15: Italian Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 6 September, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
Laps: 53
Circuit length: 5.793km
2025 winner: TBC

Round 16: Madrid Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 13 September, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Circuito IFEMA Madrid “Madring”
Laps: 57
Circuit length: 5.474km
2025 winner: TBC

Round 17: Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 27 September, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Baku City Circuit
Laps: 51
Circuit length: 6.003km
2025 winner: TBC

Round 18: Singapore Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 11 October, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Marina Bay Street Circuit
Laps: 62
Circuit length: 4.94km
2024 winner: Lando Norris

Round 19: United States Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 25 October, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Circuit of the Americas (COTA)
Laps: 56
Circuit length: 5.513km
2025 winner: TBC

Round 20: Mexico City Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 1 November 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Laps: 71
Circuit length: 4.304km
2025 winner: TBC

Round 21: Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 8 November, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Interlagos – Autodromo Jose Carlo Pace
Laps: 71
Circuit length: 4.309km
2025 winner: TBC

Round 22: Las Vegas Grand Prix

Race date: Saturday, 21 November, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Las Vegas Strip Circuit
Laps: 50
Circuit length: 6.201km
2025 winner: TBC

Round 23: Qatar Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 29 November, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Lusail International Circuit
Laps: 57
Circuit length: 5.38km
2025 winner: TBC

Round 24: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Race date: Sunday, 6 December, 2026
Race start time: TBC
Circuit: Yas Marina Circuit
Laps: 58
Circuit length: 5.281km
2025 winner: TBC

2026 Formula 1 Race Results

2026 F1 Sprint Race Results

Sprint race results will appear here post-race.

2026 Formula 1 Standings

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

2026 Driver standings

2026 Team standings