Formula 1's Class of 2026: A new teammate for Verstappen, two familiar faces returning

[p]While youngsters flooded the pinnacle of motorsport last year, this year sees the return of seasoned veterans Sergio Perez (36) and Valtteri Bottas (36), who are two of three new faces on the grid.[/p][p]Check out the full list of the drivers for the upcoming season.[/p][h2]McLaren[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/norris-lando/WSVABbVF/"]Lando Norris[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/piastri-oscar/MqKAIeUf/"]Oscar Piastri[/a][/b][/p][p]McLaren continues with a proven lineup.[/p][p]World champion Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have long-term contracts that have not been specified, but their role in the team is crucial - both are only 25 and 24 years old. [/p][p]Under their leadership, the British team finally ended a 26-year wait for a title in 2025.[/p][embed guid="c7c5d616-7620-4f92-8ebf-3d1af25e945f" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2021699011078463604?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Mercedes[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/russell-george/xxF56RaN/"]George Russell[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/antonelli-andrea-kimi/ptGu0mT1/"]Kimi Antonelli[/a][/b][/p][p]Mercedes is betting on stability going forward with George Russell and talented youngster Kimi Antonelli.[/p][p]Russell showed steady performances last season, while Antonelli made his debut with mixed results, but the team considers his potential to be immense.[/p][h2]Red Bull[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/verstappen-max/UV3mgeXB/"]Max Verstappen[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hadjar-isack/8SAk38Ui/"]Isack Hadjar[/a][/b][/p][p]Max Verstappen is the star of Red Bull. His new teammate will be Isack Hadjar, who impressed in his first season with Racing Bulls, especially with a podium finish in the Netherlands. He will replace [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tsunoda-yuki/tArbpdrf/"]Yuki Tsunoda[/a] this year, who remains only as a reserve driver. [/p][p]Hadjar is the eighth driver to drive alongside Verstappen in the last ten years.[/p][embed guid="34d73e29-4bbc-4a06-8de3-7cf99d8c0bed" url="https://x.com/KymIllman/status/2021467982128423124?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Ferrari[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/leclerc-charles/KlCOSRub/"]Charles Leclerc[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hamilton-lewis/tI5Vpe1h/"]Lewis Hamilton[/a][/b][/p][p]Charles Leclerc remains the team's long-term leader, and his goal is to win the world title for Ferrari.[/p][p]Lewis Hamilton was often beaten in his first season at the Italian stable as he got used to his new surroundings, but the team will hope he'll improve now he's settled in.[/p][p]In 2026, with the advent of new rules, Ferrari look to have one of the best cars and one of the strongest driver pairings. Big things are expected from them.[/p][embed guid="5d6a9a60-a78b-46da-b3fb-f2b5c552f4c9" url="https://x.com/ScuderiaFerrari/status/2013944675049390270?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Williams[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/albon-alexander/OEbwYC7k/"]Alexander Albon[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sainz-carlos-jr/l6kEzjTF/"]Carlos Sainz[/a][/b][/p][p]Alex Albon has been driving at Williams since 2022 thanks to his steady performances. Alongside Carlos Sainz, he is expected to continue to take the team forward after a strong 2025.[/p][p]Sainz got a podium finish in Baku in his first year with the team, and enjoyed a hugely impressive ending to it after early struggles. He will now be looking for more consistency. [/p][p]Both only have contracts until the end of 2026 as it stands.[/p][embed guid="7a2cb9ac-1761-4e73-946c-dac039901658" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2024000991071293568?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Racing Bulls[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lawson-liam/nap8RjeO/"]Liam Lawson[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lindblad-arvid/bgk1rl5a/"]Arvid Lindblad[/a][/b][/p][p]Liam Lawson will lead Racing Bulls after returning from Red Bull early last season and will partner debutant Arvid Lindblad, who has been promoted to F1 after just one year in the F2 series. Expectations are high for both young drivers.[/p][embed guid="984e7410-ecc3-49aa-a7fc-8a7e06939b1b" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2011101808492757460?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Aston Martin[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alonso-fernando/rVRhR90U/"]Fernando Alonso[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stroll-lance/I3p9zz4s/"]Lance Stroll[/a][/b][/p][p]Aston Martin continue with the same driver pairing for the third season in a row.[/p][p]44-year-old Fernando Alonso is under contract until the end of 2026, and his future beyond that will depend on the success of the team and the collaboration with Adrian Newey.[/p][p]Lance Stroll, with an effectively unlimited contract thanks to his father's ownership of the team, has his long-term place on the grid all but assured.[/p][h2]Haas[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ocon-esteban/nZKY1D4O/"]Esteban Ocon[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bearman-oliver/tMI3u5xo/"]Oliver Bearman[/a][/b][/p][p]The combination of experience and youth has worked well at Haas.[/p][p]Esteban Ocon brought in a welcome helping of points in 2025, and Oliver Bearman impressed in his rookie season with a brilliant fourth place in Mexico. [/p][p]Both are under contract until the end of 2026, but the team is counting on them as a stable duo that can provide further progression.[/p][h2]Audi[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hulkenberg-nico/GfW4SMu7/"]Nico Hulkenberg[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bortoleto-gabriel/8zwcIVil/"]Gabriel Bortoleto[/a][/b][/p][p]Audi, which have fully taken over Sauber, retain a successful line-up.[/p][p]Nico Hülkenberg had the season of his life last year, scoring his debut podium at Silverstone. Despite scoring fewer points, Gabriel Bortoleto impressed, especially with better qualifying performances, as a rookie.[/p][p]Both are under contract until the end of 2026 with the ambitious works team for the time being.[/p][embed guid="7a927b04-504c-4132-899a-76e36e7f10e4" url="https://x.com/F1pacient/status/2021508296033657319?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Alpine[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gasly-pierre/nqYFMBBf/"]Pierre Gasly[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/colapinto-franco/GzFqySBA/"]Franco Colapinto[/a][/b][/p][p]Pierre Gasly continues to be the main face of Alpine, where he is under contract until 2028. Despite a complicated past season, he believes the team will improve.[/p][p]His teammate will be Franco Colapinto, who has become a stable member of the lineup after the swap with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/doohan-jack/8IquNjvU/"]Jack Doohan[/a]. Although Colapinto has not scored any points yet, he should have the confidence of the management.[/p][embed guid="7461b450-1dc4-4964-bfa3-1f2a13948f2f" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2024035909658669308?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Cadillac[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/perez-sergio/foV8RteD/"]Sergio Perez[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bottas-valtteri/bRJJqiGb/"]Valtteri Bottas[/a][/b][/p][p]Cadillac have gone with experience for their debut season, bringing Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas into the team. [/p][p]The two veterans are under contract until 2027, and Cadillac is counting on their years of experience and their winning ability to help the team enter the world of F1.[/p]