Overview
- The 24-race 2026 calendar is confirmed from March 8 in Melbourne to December 6 in Abu Dhabi, with the grid expanding to 11 teams as Cadillac joins with Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas and Audi replaces Sauber.
- Pre‑season testing will run in three sessions for the first time: Barcelona on January 26–30, followed by Bahrain on February 11–13 and February 18–20.
- Launch dates are set across the field, including Red Bull and Ford in Detroit on January 15, Audi on January 20, Alpine/Haas/Ferrari on January 23, Cadillac’s visual identity during a Super Bowl ad on February 8, and Aston Martin’s AMR26 on February 9.
- The new rules shift performance fundamentals with 50% electric power, 100% sustainable fuels, simpler and cheaper power units, active aerodynamics and smaller, lighter cars.
- Competitive stakes intensify as Williams’ James Vowles cautions against a 2014‑style engine gap, Honda details its Aston Martin partnership alongside major AMR26 investments, Oscar Piastri expects driver adaptation to be decisive, and analysts say Max Verstappen’s longer‑term plans hinge on Red Bull’s 2026 form.