Drivers and teams compete for the titles of World Drivers' Champion and World Constructors' Champion, respectively. Lando Norris is the reigning World Drivers' Champion, while McLaren-Mercedes are the reigning World Constructors' Champions. The 2026 season features major regulation changes, including a revised power unit configuration and new active aerodynamics.
Audi, who acquired Sauber in 2024, entered as a works team with its own power unit. Cadillac made its debut in the championship using Ferrari power units, marking the first time an eleventh team has competed since 2016. Honda, through its Honda Racing Corporation subsidiary, entered into an exclusive works team agreement with Aston Martin, supplying them with their own power unit after ending its relationship with Red Bull Racing. Ford returned to the sport for the first time since 2004, supporting Red Bull Powertrains in supplying power units to Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls. Renault is no longer an engine supplier as Alpine switched to Mercedes power units.
Each team is required to enter at least two drivers, one for each of the two mandatory cars. All teams compete with tyres supplied by Pirelli. On four occasions throughout the season (twice for each car), each team must field a driver who has not competed in more than two races in one of the first two free practice sessions of a Grand Prix weekend.
Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas returned to full-time seats with Cadillac. Pérez's contract with Red Bull Racing was terminated by mutual agreement at the end of the 2024 season. Bottas last competed with Sauber in 2024 and was one of Mercedes's reserve drivers for 2025. Isack Hadjar moved from Racing Bulls to Red Bull Racing, replacing Yuki Tsunoda, who became Red Bull's test and reserve driver. Hadjar's replacement was Arvid Lindblad, who was promoted from Formula 2.
The 2026 calendar originally comprised twenty-four Grands Prix. The Bahrain Grand Prix and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix were cancelled, reducing the count of confirmed Grands Prix to twenty-two. The Chinese Grand Prix, Miami Grand Prix, Canadian Grand Prix, British Grand Prix, Dutch Grand Prix, and Singapore Grand Prix feature the sprint format.
The Spanish Grand Prix moved from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Montmeló to a new street circuit in Madrid built around the IFEMA Exhibition Centre. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya continues to host a race under the name Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola was discontinued. The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is to be held on a Saturday.
Financial, power unit, aerodynamic, geometric, and safety regulations were altered for the 2026 season. The Formula One cost cap for team operational expenditures was increased from $135 million to $215 million. A separate cost cap for power unit manufacturers was also increased from $95 million to $130 million.
New power unit regulations were introduced. The MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit – Heat) was removed, while the MGU-K (Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic) output increased to 470 bhp (350 kW) from 160 bhp (120 kW). The power output of the internal combustion part of the power unit decreased to 540 bhp (400 kW) from 850 bhp (630 kW). The power units use a fully sustainable fuel. Changes were made to the power unit at the Miami Grand Prix, including an increase to the "super clipping" limit from 340 bhp (250 kW) to 470 bhp (350 kW).
The 2026 car concept was revealed on 6 June 2024, featuring new active aerodynamics in both the front and rear wings. The drag reduction system was eliminated, replaced by a new overtake mode. The wheelbase was reduced from 360 cm (140 in) to 340 cm (130 in), the width from 200 cm (79 in) to 190 cm (75 in), and the minimum mass by 30 kg (66 lb). The tyres' widths were also reduced. The floor reduced ground effect to ease issues with porpoising. The downforce reduction of the 2026 cars compared to the 2022–2025 generation of cars would be around 15%.
Safety features were enhanced, including updated regulations for the front impact structure, improved side intrusion protection, and increased roll hoop strength. Lateral safety lights were mandated to display the energy recovery system (ERS) status of a car when it stops on track.
Sporting regulations were also modified. Drivers are permitted to change their race number during their careers. A minimum of 55% of the car's surface area must be covered by painted or stickered liveries. Driver cooling vests are mandated when the FIA declares a heat hazard. Stewards have the option to initiate a review based on new evidence, and an "out of competition" stewards panel was introduced. The requirement to make a minimum two-stop strategy at the Monaco Grand Prix was dropped.
Three pre-season tests were held. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) set the fastest time in the private test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) set the fastest time at the first Bahrain International Circuit test, while Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) set the fastest time at the second Bahrain test.
George Russell took pole position and victory at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, with Antonelli finishing second. Russell also took his maiden sprint pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix, which was won by Antonelli. Antonelli then took a second consecutive pole position and victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, becoming the youngest World Drivers' Championship leader. Lando Norris converted a sprint pole position to a victory at the Miami Grand Prix. Antonelli converted pole position to a third consecutive victory at the Miami Grand Prix. Russell took pole position for both the sprint and main race at the Canadian Grand Prix, but Antonelli took his fourth consecutive victory after Russell retired due to a power unit failure.
Points are awarded to the top ten classified drivers in the race and to the top eight finishers in the sprint. In the case of a tie on points, a countback system is used where the driver with the most Grand Prix wins is ranked higher. If the number of wins is identical, the number of second places is considered, and so on.
This article is based solely on the supplied corpus. No external sources were consulted; claims that could not be substantiated against the corpus were omitted under the drop-the-claim rule.
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