F1 2026 driver line-up: confirmed seats, contract details, and the latest transfer rumours

With Formula 1’s summer break in full swing, the focus is now shifting from track action to the driver market for the 2026 season. Fans and insiders alike are eager to know which drivers will take their place on the grid when the next era of F1 begins.

Compared to the dramatic “silly season” of 2024—when more than half the grid was out of contract by December—this year’s transfer market has been more measured. The seismic move of Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari for 2025 had already triggered early negotiations, with teams keen to lock in talent well before the start of the current season.

The 2026 season will also mark the arrival of Cadillac’s brand-new F1 team, adding two coveted seats to the grid. As it stands, five drivers are out of contract at the end of this year, leaving several storylines wide open for the months ahead.

Here is a comprehensive look at the confirmed 2026 Formula 1 driver line-ups, alongside the latest speculation surrounding the remaining open seats.

Ferrari – Charles Leclerc & Lewis Hamilton

• Charles Leclerc – Multi-year deal (beyond 2027)
• Lewis Hamilton – Multi-year deal (until at least 2026)

Ferrari have been tight-lipped about the precise length of their contracts, but it is understood that both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton will stay in Maranello through next year at the very least. Leclerc signed a fresh long-term deal ahead of the 2025 campaign, reportedly covering several more seasons and reinforcing Ferrari’s commitment to the Monegasque driver. Hamilton’s agreement is understood to run through 2026; however, with a challenging start to his Ferrari career, attention will turn to whether the seven-time world champion will continue in Maranello beyond that point.

McLaren – Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri

• Lando Norris – Multi-year deal (beyond 2027)
• Oscar Piastri – Multi-year deal (beyond 2028)

McLaren has one of the most secure and consistent driver line-ups in Formula 1, with Norris and Piastri contracted well into the future. Their dominance in the 2025 season has justified the team’s commitment ahead of the 2026 regulation changes. Piastri extended his deal earlier this year, while Norris’s contract—though undisclosed—also runs for several more years. The expectation is that the Norris–Piastri duo will continue to spearhead McLaren’s championship ambitions for at least two more seasons.

Mercedes – both seats TBC

Mercedes are in the rare position of having no confirmed drivers for 2026, with both current racers out of contract. Team principal Toto Wolff has indicated there is no urgency to finalise decisions, suggesting George Russell remains central to their long-term plans. Russell has made it clear he is in no rush to sign an extension, preferring to focus on rest and recovery over the summer break. Highly-rated rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli is also tipped to retain his place, despite admitting that adapting to the car has been a challenge.

Red Bull – Max Verstappen & TBC

• Max Verstappen – Contract until 2028
• Second seat – TBC

Max Verstappen has committed to staying with Red Bull for 2026, putting to rest rumours of a possible move to Mercedes amid the team’s recent performance slump and internal upheaval. The identity of his teammate is still unknown, with Yuki Tsunoda’s contract expiring at the end of 2025 and no replacement confirmed yet.

Williams – Alex Albon & Carlos Sainz

• Alex Albon – Until 2026
• Carlos Sainz – Until 2026

Williams secured both Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz on multi-year deals before the 2025 season began, ensuring stability through the 2026 regulation changes. The Grove-based squad is focused on building momentum and continuity as it continues its climb back toward the front of the grid.

Aston Martin – Fernando Alonso & Lance Stroll

• Fernando Alonso – Multi-year deal (until 2026)
• Lance Stroll – Multi-year deal (beyond 2026)

Aston Martin will continue with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll into 2026. Alonso, still competitive despite completing more than a third of all F1 races in history, shows no sign of slowing down. Stroll’s future with the team remains closely linked to his father Lawrence Stroll’s ownership, which makes the Canadian driver’s contract details among the least transparent on the grid.

Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber – Nico Hülkenberg & Gabriel Bortoleto

• Nico Hülkenberg – Until 2026
• Gabriel Bortoleto – Until 2026

The outfit currently branded as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber will transform into Audi for the 2026 season. In preparation for this major corporate and competitive shift, the squad has chosen to retain both Nico Hülkenberg and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto through the transition year.

Visa Cash App Racing Bulls – both seats TBC

Both seats at the Racing Bulls remain open for 2026, adding further intrigue to Red Bull’s driver structure. The uncertainty surrounding Tsunoda’s future at the senior team could lead to internal reshuffling, potentially promoting prospects such as Isack Hadjar or Liam Lawson. There is also growing speculation around Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad, who was granted a superlicence exemption earlier in the year, fuelling talk that he could debut in Formula 1 before the end of 2025.

Haas – Esteban Ocon & Oliver Bearman

• Esteban Ocon – Until 2026
• Oliver Bearman – Until 2026

Haas completed a full driver overhaul for the 2025 season, replacing Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hülkenberg with Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman. The team appears to have settled on this pairing and plans to keep both drivers through the 2026 regulation changes.

Alpine – Pierre Gasly & TBC

• Pierre Gasly – Until 2026
• Second seat – TBC

Alpine’s 2025 campaign has been turbulent, including the replacement of Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto after just six races. Colapinto has also faced challenges, and his contract is believed to operate on a rolling basis, leaving Alpine’s second seat very much in play for 2026. Identifying Pierre Gasly’s future team-mate is one of the bigger unknowns heading into next year.

Cadillac – both seats TBC

All eyes are on Cadillac as the American manufacturer prepares to join Formula 1 in 2026. The team has yet to announce either of its drivers, though strong paddock whispers suggest Valtteri Bottas is a leading contender for one of the inaugural seats. It is expected that Cadillac will reveal its 2026 driver line-up by the end of the summer break.