The 2026 season marked the entry of Cadillac as the eleventh team on the grid, the first expansion of the field since 2016. Cadillac entered using Ferrari power units and gearboxes, with plans to transition to an in-house power unit developed by General Motors and TWG Motorsports in 2029. Audi also made its debut as a works team after acquiring Sauber in 2024; the team competed as Kick Sauber in 2024 and 2025 before the full Audi factory transition.
Significant shifts occurred among engine suppliers. Ford returned to the sport for the first time since 2004, partnering with Red Bull Powertrains to supply Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls. Honda ended its relationship with Red Bull to enter an exclusive works agreement with Aston Martin through the Honda Racing Corporation. Renault exited the sport as an engine supplier for the first time since 2000, leading Alpine to become a Mercedes customer team. Consequently, Ferrari provides power units to Haas and Cadillac, while Mercedes supplies its factory team, McLaren, and Alpine.
Several veteran drivers returned to full-time competition for the 2026 season. Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas joined the new Cadillac entry. Pérez moved to the team following the mutual termination of his Red Bull Racing contract at the end of 2024, while Bottas joined after serving as a Mercedes reserve driver in 2025.
Within the Red Bull program, Isack Hadjar was promoted from Racing Bulls to Red Bull Racing, replacing Yuki Tsunoda, who transitioned to a test and reserve role. Hadjar's former seat at Racing Bulls was filled by Arvid Lindblad, who was promoted from Formula 2.
The 2026 technical regulations introduced a new power unit that maintains over 1,000 bhp but alters the energy source distribution. The MGU-H was removed, while the MGU-K output was increased from 160 bhp to 470 bhp. Conversely, the internal combustion engine's output was reduced from 850 bhp to 540 bhp. These units utilize fully sustainable fuel and are designed to recover twice as much electrical energy as previous iterations.
Following a high-speed crash involving Oliver Bearman at the Japanese Grand Prix caused by a speed differential in energy deployment, the FIA refined the "super clipping" limits. The limit was increased to 470 bhp to reduce the necessity of "lift and coast" tactics on straights.
The 2026 car concept introduced active aerodynamics, featuring moveable front and rear wing elements. This system replaced the traditional Drag Reduction System (DRS) with a new "overtake mode" and "boost mode." The cars are smaller than their predecessors, with the wheelbase reduced to 340 cm and the width reduced to 190 cm. The minimum mass was lowered by 30 kg, and tyre widths were narrowed. To address porpoising, the floor design was modified to reduce ground effect.
The cost cap for team operational expenditures was increased to $215 million, while a separate cap for power unit manufacturers was set at $130 million. New sporting rules include a mandate that 55% of a car's surface must be covered by livery to prevent excessive exposed carbon fiber. Additionally, the FIA introduced mandated cooling vests for drivers during heat hazards and established an "out of competition" stewards panel for time-sensitive decisions.
George Russell won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix from pole position, leading a Mercedes one-two finish ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli. Charles Leclerc finished third. The race was notable for Isack Hadjar qualifying third on his debut and Max Verstappen recovering from 20th to sixth.
At the Chinese Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli became the youngest pole-sitter in Formula One history. He went on to secure his maiden victory in the main race, while Lewis Hamilton finished on the podium for the first time since 2024.
Antonelli continued his form at the Japanese Grand Prix, taking pole and the race win. This victory allowed him to overtake Russell for the lead of the World Drivers' Championship, making him the first Italian driver to lead the standings since Alberto Ascari in 1953. The race was interrupted by a heavy crash involving Oliver Bearman, which triggered a safety car period that Antonelli utilized to retain his lead on fresh tyres.
The 2026 calendar was reduced to twenty-two races following the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to the outbreak of the Iran war. The Spanish Grand Prix moved to a new street circuit in Madrid, while the event at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was renamed the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix was moved to a Saturday to accommodate the nation's Remembrance Day.
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