Formula 1 2026: Team by team guide to cars and drivers
SETTING THE PACE: McLaren driver Lando Norris is the man to beat this season. Picture: PA
MCL40 Mercedes Andrea Stella Monaco 1966
994 10 1st.
Held their nerve to close out the constructors’ and drivers’ double last season, albeit with the latter going to the wire as they rather tied themselves in knots trying to be fair to both drivers. Enter this year a little off the front, but in a season likely to be marked by a fierce development battle will expect to exploit their huge strengths in bringing the car on with alacrity and be in the mix in no short order.
Australia 2019 11 16 1 1st.
After sealing his first title last year, Norris is enjoying a confidence in his own abilities like never before. Has stressed the need to prove himself in winning the title and having done so, especially after such a fearsome fight, is buoyant, fired up for a title defence and can be expected to push McLaren hard for the tools to do so.
Bahrain 2023 9 6 0 3rd 3rd.
Suffered a severe blow last season having dominated for so long only for a series of poor results to cost him his title tilt in the final third. Still gaining experience and acknowledging he learned from the setback, is determined to emerge even stronger and having improved every year will be in any fight.
W17 Mercedes Toto Wolff France 1954
329 8 2nd.
Struggled throughout the previous ground-effect era, but enter as pre-season favourites under the new regulations.
If they have a real advantage in Melbourne can be expected to exploit it ruthlessly, with two drivers more than capable of doing so. On this form, the team to beat.
Australia 2019 5 7 0 4th 4th.
Experienced and a proven winner, Russell can be expected to take most advantage of a strong car and dominate from the off. Wants nothing more than to mix it with Norris and Max Verstappen and given the opportunity has the control and judgment to return on his promise. Unsurprisingly, the bookies’ favourite.
Australia 2025 2nd 0 2nd 7th 7th.
Enormously promising, the youngster showed flashes of brilliance last season, but also errors that might be expected in a rookie season. If he can exert more control in a good car has the chance to return on team’s faith in him and will have no fear in taking the fight to Russell if a championship is on the line.
RB22 Red Bull Ford Laurent Mekies Australia 2005
417 6 3rd.
Finished last season very strongly, a testament to new boss Mekies’s determination to get to grips with their car. Fears over the first engine the team have built themselves have proved unfounded and the whole package is formidable, with particular strength in energy recovery and deployment. Mekies believes they trail their rivals, but will doubtless have more to come.
Australia 2015 71 48 4 2nd.
Gave his all to drag the title fight to the wire last year in a car that was off the pace for more than half the season.
Will expect to be in the fight from the start and, much as he does not like the style of driving required by the new regulations, has the undoubted ability to master it. Should not be ruled out for a fifth title.
Australia 2025 3rd 0 4th 12th 12th.
Hugely impressive on his debut last year, including a podium at Zandvoort, he has to take on the arduous task of partnering Verstappen. Just holding his own and returning good points would be an achievement. The feisty Frenchman will expect no less.
SF-26 Ferrari Frédéric Vasseur Monaco 1950
1,122 16 4th.
Another team that never conquered the ground-effect era and they ended 2025 with a whimper. The long title drought – stretching back to 2008 – continues but this year look to have a real handle on the new regs. A quick car, lightning off the grid and out of corners, bodes well and they might finally be in the fight with two drivers more than ready to stake their claim. However, if the car is there Ferrari must also produce operationally.
Australia 2018 8 27 0 2nd 5th.
Repeatedly proved he has all the qualities to fight for a title, but has been frustrated at being unable to do so. He is one of the best qualifiers on the grid, which may prove vital this season and has confidence and strong racecraft. Racing in a good car against Hamilton would be the acid test and a fight to be savoured.
Australia 2007 105 104 7 6th.
Endured a torrid debut for Ferrari last year, from which he could not wait to move on. He returns once more fired up after a winter reset and with a car much more suited to his driving style.
His touch is still there, as is his judgment and the command and race pace that comes with his experience. If Ferrari have the car, Hamilton remains in the hunt for an eighth title.
FW48 Mercedes James Vowles Spain 1977
858 9 5th.
Punched way above their weight with a superb performance last season, all the while targeting this year for a real step forward. Vowles has made great strides forward, but the car not being ready for the first test was a major blow.
Not where they want to be and face a real struggle.
Australia 2019 0 3rd 0 4th 0 7th 8th.
Enjoyed solid progress at Williams, but last season was outqualified by Carlos Sainz, despite the Spaniard taking time to adapt to the new team. Will be under real pressure to prove he is in the same class and that he can deliver if Williams are to make the step up.
Australia 2015 4 6 0 5th 9th.
Took some time, self-admittedly, to adapt to Williams after Ferrari, but in the final third found his feet with a reminder of his genuine talent. His third place in Qatar was as gritty a result as any he has scored. Will expect to be on top from the off this time and be invaluable in bringing Williams forward.
VCARB 03 Red Bull Ford Alan Permane Bahrain 2006
399 0 6th 6th.
Permane’s first full season in charge having taken over from Mekies last year will be a challenge, but he has a good car and that strong Red Bull Ford engine.
They are in the fight in the front of the midfield with Haas and Alpine. How the drivers respond will be key, but Permane has a cool head and a wealth of experience.
Netherlands 2023 5th 0 3rd 0 14th 14th.
Recovered well after the shock of being demoted from Red Bull during the opening of last season and put in some solid runs, not least a third on the grid in Baku, which he converted to fifth. Remains prone to poor decision-making and must consider this season a showcase to retain his seat, not least by beating his rookie teammate.
Australia 2026 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A.
Enormously promising teenager from Virginia Water makes the step up as part of the Red Bull junior programme. New cars, engines and tyres make for a steep learning curve, but he has experience in F1 machinery, including outpacing Yuki Tsunoda in practice in Mexico, and should at least return some points. Beating Lawson would be a major statement.
AMR26 Honda Adrian Newey Netherlands 1959
119 0 5th 7th.
Adrian Newey’s first car for Aston Martin has not enjoyed an auspicious start, nor has the Honda engine in its return to F1. Aston missed time in testing, Honda have admitted their engine is off the pace and it appears unreliable. Moreover, the car, while typically innovative, is far from where they want it to be. Have a long way to go drag themselves from, on practice form, the back of the grid. Melbourne may well be painful.
Australia 2001 32 22 2 10th.
Hopes he would enjoy a last hurrah in a resurgent Newey-designed Aston Martin appear all but over for Alonso, who without doubt can still make the best of a good car.
Instead, he faces, for the moment at least, trying to drag the best out of another lacklustre Honda engine, an unedifying sight for a great driver who must be considering whether he is ready to call time.
Australia 2017 3rd 1 0 10th 16th.
Stroll, who has already been blunt about the failings of the new car must bring more if the team are to salvage the season and make an advance. He cannot match Alonso, but needs to remain motivated and urn in more than some of the indifferent performances that characterised last season if he is to prove he is there for more than just making up the numbers.
VF-26 Ferrari Ayao Komatsu Australia 2016
214 0 5th 8th.
Komatsu’s efforts to push the team forward remains impressive and they have made another real advance. In testing they were in with a shout of being the best of the midfield, the car quick and reliable with both drivers comfortable. A strong opening to the season is to be expected and watch out for some explosive starts as they exploit the Ferrari engine.
Belgium 2016 1 0 3rd 0 8th 15th.
The more experienced of the two drivers, Ocon nevertheless endured a patchy season last year. Signs of his undoubted skill were evident, but not often enough. If Haas have the car they will need more from the Frenchman, with consistency vital if they are to make hay in a close fight and if he is to retain his seat.
Saudi Arabia 2024 4th 0 8th 0 13th 13th.
Expectations were high for the rookie Briton last year, but he took time to adjust and while there were flashes of his undoubted talent there were also far too many unwarranted errors. He did settle however, with five top 10 finishes in a row towards the end of the season, including a superb fourth in Mexico. Potentially just the weapon Haas require, if he eliminates the misjudgments.
R26 Audi Jonathan Wheatley Australia 2026
N/A N/A N/A N/A.
Making their F1 debut by taking over the former Sauber team – who finished ninth in the constructors’ standings – and manufacturing their own engine, Audi have grand ambitions.
Their engine is at least solid and the car put in decent miles. Wheatley is a strong leader in what must be considered a learning year for the Ingolstadt marque.
Bahrain 2010 3rd 1 0 7th 11th.
Finally claiming his first podium last season was an achievement for the Hulk welcomed by all and his task at Audi is to bring experience and strong feedback as team leader in what is a development period. Has all the abilities to do so, but may well be eclipsed by his very quick teammate.
Australia 2025 0 0 7th 0 19th 19th.
Showed real promise in his rookie season, as expected after winning titles in F3 and F2 but was also a little erratic. He put in some of the best drives by a newcomer last year, including his sixth place in Hungary. With a season under his belt more is expected and Audi believe he will develop as they do. Could well be their best shot at points.
A526 Mercedes Steve Nielsen Bahrain 2021
114 0 4th 10th.
Coming out of a woeful 2025, the perennial underperformers simply had to do better. Their poor car and engine was not helped by the instability around the team, but this season a more settled atmosphere prevails. They have taken a Mercedes engine and the car could be their best for years. With the team at the sharp end of the midfield expect Christian Horner’s efforts to come on board to intensify.
:
Malaysia 2017 1 0 2nd 0 7th 18th.
Frequently outperformed the car last year in what was a trying season, including a superb sixth in the wet at Silverstone.
Without Gasly’s heroics Alpine would have looked even more forlorn. In a decent car more can be expected and he can be trusted to execute with flair and steel. May well be the differentiator in the midfield scrap.
Imola 2024 8th 0 8th 0 19th 20th.
Drafted in last May to replace Jack Doohan, the Argentinian came with high expectations. The poor car did not help, but he was let down by several errors that left him, and Alpine’s decision, look wanting. A mid-season reset followed and he showed composure with better form. Enough to keep his seat, but the pressure will be more intense in a good car and he will have no excuses.
MAC-26 Ferrari Graham Lowdon Australia 2026
N/A N/A N/A N/A.
Having gained their entry at the end of 2024, Cadillac have done a tremendous job in building a team just to reach the grid.
The car is at the back, but they completed all the testing days well and are looking at simply making progress in their debut season. Making the flag is the first goal and then points.
Australia 2013 10 20 0 2nd N/A.
Cadillac have unsurprisingly gone for experience with their drivers. Bottas knows too well how a top-end team functions from his time at Mercedes and brings a renewed enthusiasm for F1 to the project. A proven pair of hands who will make the most of any machinery, Bottas will be invaluable for the task ahead.
Australia 2011 6 3 0 2nd N/A.
A veteran similar to Bottas, but with something still to prove after the Mexican’s time at Red Bull ended poorly in 2024. He is fired-up and also brings the knowledge of how a championship-winning team operates. At his best, Pérez will make the most of the car especially if, as it appears, it suits his style. Exactly what Cadillac require for development.
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