Contract status for each driver

We have now summarized the contract standing of every F1 driver and group for the 2026 season, together with Cadillac, which would be the eleventh entry.

We have included all the most recent rumors about which drivers might land that driver, and which drivers might swap groups for subsequent season…

mclaren

McLaren has already confirmed its driver line-up for subsequent yr, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri each tied to offers that embrace the 2026 marketing campaign.

Both Norris or Piastri will enter the 2026 season because the defending F1 champion.

ferrari

Like McLaren, Ferrari can also be making ready each drivers for 2026.

In the beginning of 2024, Charles Leclerc signed a brand new long-term contract, mentioned to be for an additional 5 years, till the top of the 2029 marketing campaign.

In the meantime, famous person signing Lewis Hamilton has been added to a deal that’s understood to cowl at the very least the 2025 and 2026 campaigns.

purple bull

4-time world champion Max Verstappen signed a long-term contract in March 2022 to stay at Purple Bull till the top of 2028.

After an extended interval of uncertainty, Verstappen has confirmed he’ll stay with Purple Bull in 2026.

Verstappen’s future has been shrouded doubtful, and rumors continued even after the sacking of Purple Bull boss Christian Horner.

Verstappen’s obvious unhappiness has been reported over the previous yr. Mercedes was on the entrance of the road.

Verstappen and Mercedes supervisor Toto Wolff reportedly met to debate a switch after the 2025 British Grand Prix.

The driving force of Purple Bull’s second automotive continues to be underneath suspicion.

Liam Lawson lasted simply two races as Verstappen’s teammate in 2025 earlier than being hooked to interchange Yuki Tsunoda. Nevertheless, Tsunoda has additionally struggled since getting the gig.

Isak Hajjar is the favourite to be promoted alongside Verstappen.

mercedes

Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell have lastly stayed at Mercedes after an extended saga.

Beforehand, it appeared their future may hinge on Mercedes’ curiosity in Verstappen.

Apparently, Mercedes has restricted its driver line-up to 2026 and has not mounted it past that, elevating suspicions that the Silver Arrows nonetheless need Verstappen sooner or later.

aston martin

Aston Martin’s lineup is anticipated to stay unchanged for 2026.

Fernando Alonso’s contract runs till the top of the 2026 season, however Lance Stroll, whose father owns the group, successfully has one other seat so long as he desires to proceed racing.

Aston Martin was additionally rumored to be becoming a member of Verstappen, however these rumors have since died down.

Adrian Newey’s arrival offers Aston Martin drivers nice hope for 2026.

Takayama

Pierre Gasly agreed a brand new multi-year contract extension final time period, which is able to preserve him in considered one of Alpine’s seats till 2026.

Nevertheless, there may be at all times hypothesis about their second driver.

Jack Doohan was compelled out of the race seat after simply six races as a rookie.

Franco Colapinto, who had impressed at Williams and was beforehand signed as a reserve and take a look at driver, changed Doohan within the automotive. Nevertheless, Alpine has admitted that they’re continually monitoring his progress.

It’s anticipated that will probably be a direct competitors between Colapinto and reserve driver Paul Aaron, who will compete for the second seat.

fireside

Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman will type Haas’ new construction for 2025, with each gamers underneath contract till 2026.

racing bulls

Purple Bull’s sister group Racing Bulls has no drivers signed for 2026.

Their drivers will to start with rely upon Purple Bull’s decision-making.

Former Racing Bulls supervisor Laurent Mekies has changed Christian Horner at Purple Bull.

With Hajjar hinting at a transfer to Purple Bull, Arvid Lindblad may very well be promoted from F2 to take the Racing Bulls seat.

Tsunoda and Lawson are prone to compete for the opposite seat, however former McLaren junior Alex Dunne can also be thought-about a candidate to signal with Purple Bull, so he may very well be a candidate.

williams

Carlos Sainz has agreed to affix Williams on a multi-year deal, which is able to see him proceed alongside Alex Albon in 2026 except a rumored launch clause is triggered.

audi

Sauber will change into the Audi works F1 group in 2026, with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortello anticipated to stay.

Hulkenberg was promised a three-year deal when he signed with Haas in 2024, however Sauber’s Bortleto announcement referred to the reigning F2 champion as a “future Audi driver”, suggesting the deal is for greater than only one season.

Cadillac

Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez are the drivers signed to Cadillac.

Cadillac initially indicated it needed an American driver, however that opinion has waned just lately. So that they thought-about a mix of veterans and newcomers. As an alternative, they acquired two of their most skilled free brokers.

Seven Cadillac drivers participated.

Nevertheless, the 2 main candidates have been Perez and Bottas, they usually have been rightly acknowledged.