Ahead of The Pop-Up Hotel’s second F1 season, we break down everything you need to know about the full Formula 1 grid as the championship moves into a new regulation era and one of the most anticipated seasons in F1 history. With revised regulations reshaping car design and performance, teams have finalised their driver line-ups in the hope of gaining an early advantage. The grid combines established world champions, proven race winners and emerging talent, with several teams opting for continuity while others introduce fresh partnerships. From title contenders to new entrants, this is how Formula 1 lines up for 2026.
| Team | Driver 1 | Car Number | Driver 2 | Car Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine | Pierre Gasly | 10 | Franco Colapinto | 43 |
| Aston Martin | Fernando Alonso | 14 | Lance Stroll | 18 |
| Audi | Gabriel Bortoleto | 5 | Nico Hülkenberg | 27 |
| Cadillac | Sergio Perez | 11 | Valtteri Bottas | 77 |
| Ferrari | Charles Leclerc | 16 | Lewis Hamilton | 44 |
| Haas | Oliver Bearman | 87 | Esteban Ocon | 31 |
| McLaren | Oscar Piastri | 81 | Lando Norris | 1 |
| Mercedes | George Russell | 63 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | 12 |
| Red Bull | Max Verstappen | 3 | Isack Hadjar | 6 |
| Racing Bulls | Liam Lawson | 30 | Arvid Lindblad | 41 |
| Williams | Alex Albon | 23 | Carlos Sainz | 55 |
Alpine – Pierre Gasly (10), Franco Colapinto (43)
Pierre Gasly continues as Alpine’s lead driver for 2026 and will once again be partnered by Franco Colapinto, as the French team retains continuity into the new regulation era.
Gasly, now 29, was solely responsible for Alpine’s points tally in the 2025 constructors’ championship, scoring all 22 points himself. The upcoming season marks his fourth consecutive year with the Enstone-based outfit.
Colapinto, 22, stepped into the Alpine seat midway through the 2024 campaign, replacing Australian Jack Doohan after six races. While the Argentine competed in 18 grands prix across 2024 and 2025, he was unable to convert any of those appearances into championship points.
Aston Martin – Fernando Alonso (14), Lance Stroll (18)
Aston Martin enter 2026 with stability both on and off the track, retaining Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll for a fourth straight season together. The year also marks the first with Adrian Newey in place as team principal.
Alonso, who turns 45 in July, ended the 2025 season 10th in the drivers’ championship after a productive run during the European rounds. His experience continued to shine in qualifying, where he outperformed his team-mate at every one of the 24 race weekends.
Stroll, 27, finished 14th overall in the standings, four positions behind the Spaniard, as Aston Martin looked to build consistency ahead of the regulation reset.
Audi – Gabriel Bortoleto (5), Nico Hülkenberg (27)
With Sauber officially transitioning into Audi for 2026, the German manufacturer has confirmed Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg as its inaugural driver pairing.
Bortoleto, 21, impressed during his rookie Formula 1 season in 2025. The Brazilian’s standout result came in August at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he secured a career-best sixth-place finish.
Hülkenberg, now 38, finally ended a long-standing statistic last season by claiming his first Formula 1 podium. His third-place finish at the British Grand Prix came after 239 race starts, closing a 15-year chapter in the sport.
Cadillac – Sergio Perez (11), Valtteri Bottas (77)
Cadillac will become Formula 1’s 11th team in 2026, and the American outfit has opted for experience by signing Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas to spearhead its debut campaign.
Bottas, 36, brings an extensive résumé that includes 10 grand prix victories, 20 pole positions and 67 podium finishes since making his F1 debut with Williams in 2013.
Perez, 35, returns to the grid after losing his Red Bull seat at the end of 2024. The Mexican first entered Formula 1 with Sauber in 2011 and arrives at Cadillac with six wins, three pole positions and 39 podiums to his name.
Ferrari – Charles Leclerc (16), Lewis Hamilton (44)
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton head into their second year as Ferrari team-mates following a challenging first season together in 2025.
Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, claimed a sprint pole and sprint victory at the Chinese Grand Prix but endured a frustrating campaign overall. The 40-year-old failed to reach the podium in any of the 24 main races and suffered several Q1 exits in qualifying.
Leclerc finished fifth in the drivers’ championship, one place ahead of Hamilton. The 28-year-old Monegasque secured all seven of Ferrari’s podium finishes last season, as well as the team’s only main-race pole position, which came in Hungary.
Haas – Oliver Bearman (87), Esteban Ocon (31)
Haas retain the pairing of Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon for a second season as they look to build on progress made in 2025.
Bearman, 20, delivered a number of eye-catching performances during his rookie year. Highlights included a remarkable sixth-place finish at Zandvoort after starting from the pit lane, followed by a career-best fourth place in Mexico City.
Ocon, 29, narrowly trailed his younger team-mate across the season. In his first year with Haas, the Frenchman finished 15th in the championship, three points and two positions behind Bearman.
McLaren – Oscar Piastri (81), Lando Norris (1)
McLaren retain the same line-up as they defend the constructors’ championship under the new 2026 regulations, with both drivers having been central to last season’s title fight.
Lando Norris sealed his first world championship at the season finale in Abu Dhabi. The 26-year-old now targets a rare feat for the team, aiming to become McLaren’s first back-to-back drivers’ champion since Mika Häkkinen in 1998 and 1999.
Oscar Piastri, 24, led the standings for large portions of the year and ended the season with seven wins and 16 podiums. However, a difficult second half of the campaign saw the Australian finish third overall.
Mercedes – George Russell (63), Andrea Kimi Antonelli (12)
Mercedes continues with George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli as their driver pairing for another season.
Russell, 27, enters his fifth year with the team after a strong 2025 campaign. He claimed victories in Canada and Singapore and finished fourth in the drivers’ championship.
Antonelli experienced an up-and-down rookie season but ended the year on a high note. The 19-year-old secured podium finishes in Brazil and Las Vegas, adding to his maiden podium in Canada earlier in the season, and ultimately finished seventh in the standings.
Red Bull – Max Verstappen (3), Isack Hadjar (6)
Max Verstappen lines up alongside a new team-mate in 2026, with Isack Hadjar promoted to Red Bull’s senior team.
Despite a difficult season for the team in 2025, Verstappen remained in contention for a fifth consecutive world title until the final race, eventually finishing runner-up to Norris in Abu Dhabi. The 28-year-old still recorded the most race wins of the season, with eight victories.
Hadjar, 21, earned promotion after an impressive rookie year. The Frenchman claimed his first Formula 1 podium at the Dutch Grand Prix in August, performances that convinced Red Bull to elevate him from Racing Bulls.
Racing Bulls – Liam Lawson (30), Arvid Lindblad (41)
Racing Bulls field a blend of experience and youth in 2026, pairing Liam Lawson with rookie Arvid Lindblad.
Lawson, 23, was released from Red Bull after just two races last season but retains his place within the organisation. He finished 14th in the championship and continues with the junior team.
Lindblad, 18, is the only rookie on the grid. The British driver, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, won two Formula 2 races in 2025 and has been identified as a future Red Bull prospect since the age of 12.
Williams – Alex Albon (23), Carlos Sainz (55)
Williams carry momentum into 2026 after finishing fifth in the constructors’ championship, with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz entering a second season together.
Albon, 29, begins his sixth campaign with the team and played a crucial role in their success through a strong early run of points. He finished eighth in the drivers’ standings, nine points ahead of his team-mate.
Sainz, 31, joined Williams from Ferrari following Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at the Scuderia. While he finished ninth overall, the Spaniard claimed two podiums during the season, securing third place at both the Azerbaijan and Qatar Grands Prix.
Booking for 2026: Early Bird Is Live (Limited)
For a strictly limited number of rooms, we are guaranteeing 2025 prices for the 2026 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
- Up to 30% saving vs. final 2026 rates
- Secure your room with just a 25% deposit
- Dynamic pricing: rates will rise over time, so book early to lock in the best price.
Pro tip: Sprint weekends sell out fast! If you want the inside track, an unrivalled vantage point, plus three days of must-watch sessions, grab your spot now.
