Overview
- Under the FIA’s 2026 sporting rules, six cars will be eliminated in Q1 and six in Q2, preserving a 10-driver Q3 while session lengths remain 18/15/12 minutes.
- The Sprint Shootout mirrors the larger grid with shorter segments and mandated new tyres: 12 minutes on mediums (SQ1), 10 minutes on mediums (SQ2), and 8 minutes on softs (SQ3).
- Cadillac’s entry expands the field to 11 teams and 22 drivers, with Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas confirmed as the new outfit’s race lineup.
- The 2026 calendar is set at 24 races, opening 8 March in Melbourne and concluding 6 December in Abu Dhabi, with three pre-season test blocks on Jan 26–30 (Barcelona), Feb 11–13 and Feb 18–20 (both Bahrain).
- Alpine chief Steve Nielsen acknowledged the 2025 car was too slow and set 2026 expectations for both Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto to score regularly, stressing stability in the second seat.