The Official F1 2026 silly season *contains speculation*

[vaud]

OK, continuing on my prior years…

Teams and drivers (based on naming as of Dec 2024) and using the short team names rather than entrant title. Contract expiry in brackets). I think this is correct based on some cross checking, happy to be corrected and will update.

So there is quite a lot of stability in contracts (and yes contract can be exited) for 2026 and a few gaps.

Alpine (Mercedes)

• Pierre Gasly (Multi-year contract until at least 2026)
• TBD (Jack Doohan announced as 2025 only for now)

Aston Martin (Honda)

• Fernando Alonso (2026)
• Lance Stroll (2026)

Audi F1 (Audi)

• Nico Hülkenberg ("multi year" from 2025)
• Gabriel Bortoleto ("multi year" from 2025)

Cadillac (TBD, likely Ferrari)

• TBD
• TBD

Ferrari

• Charles Leclerc (unclear other than “several more seasons”)
• Lewis Hamilton (multi year from 2025)

Haas (Ferrari)

• Esteban Ocon (multi year from 2025)
• Oliver Bearman (multi year from 2025)

McLaren (Mercedes)

• Lando Norris (2026 minimum)
• Oscar Piastri (2026)

Mercedes

• TBD (Kimi Antonelli was announced for 2025 only)
• TBD (George Russell expires 2025)

Racing Bulls (Ford)

• TBD (Yuki contract expires 2025)
• TBD

Red Bull (Ford)

• Max Verstappen (2028)
• Sergio Perez (2026)

Williams (Mercedes)

• Alex Albon (2026)
• Carlos Sainz (2027+options)

Races

Circuits are largely set - 19 under contract, no doubt some changes to those not under contract. Hard to see that China won't extend. Belgium/Dutch GP looks a bit more uncertain. Ditto Mexico. Not sure about Barcelona and Madrid, I see conflicting info that they will run both for 2026, though both seem to have a contract.

Contracted

• Abu Dhabi (2030)
• Australia (2037)
• Austria (2030)
• Azerbaijan (2026)
• Bahrain (2036)
• British (2034)
• Canada (2031)
• Hungary (2032)
• Italy - Monza (2031)
• Japan (2029)
• Monaco (2031)
• Qatar (2032)
• São Paulo (2031)
• Saudi Arabia (2030)
• Singapore (2028)
• Spain - Barcelona (2026)
• Spain - Madrid (2035)
• US - COTA (2032)
• US - Miami (2031)

Contracted for 2025 but not yet 2026

• Belgium
• China
• Netherlands
• Italy (Imola)
• US - Las Vegas (technically expires in 2025 but intent is to extend)
• Mexico

[carl_w]

I can see Verstappen following Newey and Honda to AM, and Red Bull snapping up Oscar Piastri. Mr Pastry will always be #2 at McLaren, and his manager is Mark Webber.

[Still Mulling]

Thanks, vaud!

I can see Aston being the most ripe for changes, and I'm not convinced Sergio will be on the grid in 2025, never mind 2026.

[Supersam83]

vaud said:

Mercedes

• TBD (Kimi Antonelli was announced for 2025 only)
• TBD (George Russell expires 2025)

Mercedes looks the most exposed in regards to 2026 drivers.

What other options do they have or is this an exit strategy from F1 with the short term contracts.

I can see Max Verstappen going to Aston for 2026 and not Mercedes...

[the-norseman]

Mad prediction here, I'm a Ferrari fan, not a Hamilton fan.

2025 Ferrari car is very good, CL finishes top 3 in most races and challenges for the title loosing out to Max again. Hamilton however carries on his current form and does a Perez.

2026 Hamilton/Ferrari terminate early, Hamilton retires, Ferrari go on to win the WDC and WCC with CL and another driver.

[BrettMRC]

I think Sainz will end up at Mercedes alongside Russell.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

the-norseman said:

Mad prediction here, I'm a Ferrari fan, not a Hamilton fan.

2025 Ferrari car is very good, CL finishes top 3 in most races and challenges for the title loosing out to Max again. Hamilton however carries on his current form and does a Perez.

2026 Hamilton/Ferrari terminate early, Hamilton retires, Ferrari go on to win the WDC and WCC with CL and another driver.

I have this sneaky feeling that Hamilton will struggle at Ferrari compared to CL and Ferrari will wonder why they paid so much money to sign a driver in the autumn of his career. I agree that Hamilton and Ferrari will terminate the contract by mutual agreement and Hamilton will retire.

I also think Max will be at Aston in 2026, I am not sure which driver he will replace. Either Alonso will decide he is done with F1 and retire, or they will keep Alonso as Stroll could not stand the embarrassment of being utterly destroyed by max.

Ocon to have an Ocon 25 and crash into Bearman several times in the season and cost millions in damages. He will be let go for 2026 and his time in F1 will be over.

[White-Noise]

Thank you for making this thread vaud!

Link to rule changes summary and text lifted below.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/fia-unv...

From 2026 onwards Formula 1 will have:

- More agile cars, which are 30kg lighter and thus better able to battle on track
- A redesigned power unit featuring increased battery power and an even split between internal combustion engine and electric power plus the use of 100% sustainable fuels
- Active aerodynamics in the form of moveable front and rear wings to allow for closer racing
- Increased overtaking opportunities through the introduction of a new system that gives drivers a short burst of additional battery power when within one second of the car in front
- Improved safety through stronger structures and even tougher tests
- Commitment from a record number of six power unit manufacturers


Personally I think the new FIA car looks great

[Muzzer79]

ThingsBehindTheSun said:

I have this sneaky feeling that Hamilton will struggle at Ferrari compared to CL and Ferrari will wonder why they paid so much money to sign a driver in the autumn of his career. I agree that Hamilton and Ferrari will terminate the contract by mutual agreement and Hamilton will retire.

I also think Max will be at Aston in 2026, I am not sure which driver he will replace.

If Hamilton doesn't work out at Ferrari then Ferrari will write Verstappen a blank cheque and tell him to fill the numbers in.

I respect Hamilton enormously but I think that if Ferrari had even an inkling that Verstappen might be available in the next 1-2 years, they'd have signed him and not Hamilton.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

Muzzer79 said:

If Hamilton doesn't work out at Ferrari then Ferrari will write Verstappen a blank cheque and tell him to fill the numbers in.

I am not sure if punchy Jos would agree to that as it is clear he likes to feel he has a say at the team and that would never happen at Ferrari.

Plus Newey is a massive part of the Verstappen dream team and he is at Aston. I am sure Aston will be happy to build the whole team around Max and keep his dad happy.

[paulguitar]

White-Noise said:

Thank you for making this thread vaud!

Link to rule changes summary and text lifted below.

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/fia-unv...

From 2026 onwards Formula 1 will have:

- More agile cars, which are 30kg lighter and thus better able to battle on track
- A redesigned power unit featuring increased battery power and an even split between internal combustion engine and electric power plus the use of 100% sustainable fuels
- Active aerodynamics in the form of moveable front and rear wings to allow for closer racing
- Increased overtaking opportunities through the introduction of a new system that gives drivers a short burst of additional battery power when within one second of the car in front
- Improved safety through stronger structures and even tougher tests
- Commitment from a record number of six power unit manufacturers


Personally I think the new FIA car looks great

The cars need to lose 300 kilos, not 30. Ditch the boring hybrid stuff. Proper, glorious sounding naturally aspirated engines, much smaller cars, and tyres that don't force the drivers into plodding around for much of each grand prix and are so fragile that they have to be managed even over one qualifying lap.


There is much that is horribly wrong with current F1 and that list is not addressing it.

[Bo_apex]

paulguitar said:

The cars need to lose 300 kilos, not 30. Ditch the boring hybrid stuff. Proper, glorious sounding naturally aspirated engines, much smaller cars, and tyres that don't force the drivers into plodding around for much of each grand prix and are so fragile that they have to be managed even over one qualifying lap.


There is much that is horribly wrong with current F1 and that list is not addressing it.

Agree with this.
Cost efficient V10's would also improve the spectacle.

[BrettMRC]

Bo_apex said:

paulguitar said:

The cars need to lose 300 kilos, not 30. Ditch the boring hybrid stuff. Proper, glorious sounding naturally aspirated engines, much smaller cars, and tyres that don't force the drivers into plodding around for much of each grand prix and are so fragile that they have to be managed even over one qualifying lap.


There is much that is horribly wrong with current F1 and that list is not addressing it.

Agree with this.
Cost efficient V10's would also improve the spectacle.

Remove cost cap and let them have a choice between hybrid/non-hybrid... but, if you run non-hybrid you're only allowed 60kg of fuel for the race - other than that engine configuration can be anything you want.

That should push ICE development!

[732NM]

Still Mulling said:

Thanks, vaud!

I can see Aston being the most ripe for changes, and I'm not convinced Sergio will be on the grid in 2025, never mind 2026.

I'm convinced Perez last race is this coming weekend.

[Still Mulling]

732NM said:

I'm convinced Perez last race is this coming weekend.

Agreed.

[Wish]

Still Mulling said:

732NM said:

I'm convinced Perez last race is this coming weekend.

Agreed.

I’ve been thinking it most of the season to be honest.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

Wish said:

Still Mulling said:

732NM said:

I'm convinced Perez last race is this coming weekend.

Agreed.

I’ve been thinking it most of the season to be honest.

I think we will be saying this every race next season as well.

[PhilAsia]

Bo_apex said:

paulguitar said:

The cars need to lose 300 kilos, not 30. Ditch the boring hybrid stuff. Proper, glorious sounding naturally aspirated engines, much smaller cars, and tyres that don't force the drivers into plodding around for much of each grand prix and are so fragile that they have to be managed even over one qualifying lap.


There is much that is horribly wrong with current F1 and that list is not addressing it.

Agree with this.
Cost efficient V10's would also improve the spectacle.

Thanks Vaud!

Lose 300 kilos, mandatory hydrogen V10s, with the bonus that every race has a wet track!

[ajprice]

PhilAsia said:

Bo_apex said:

paulguitar said:

The cars need to lose 300 kilos, not 30. Ditch the boring hybrid stuff. Proper, glorious sounding naturally aspirated engines, much smaller cars, and tyres that don't force the drivers into plodding around for much of each grand prix and are so fragile that they have to be managed even over one qualifying lap.


There is much that is horribly wrong with current F1 and that list is not addressing it.

Agree with this.
Cost efficient V10's would also improve the spectacle.

Thanks Vaud!

Lose 300 kilos, mandatory hydrogen V10s, with the bonus that every race has a wet track!

Current cars are minimum 798kg and around 5.6m long. 2009 cars were minimum 605kg and around 4.6m long. Some of the weight will be safety (a halo structure weighs 7kg) but most of the weight will be hybrid bits. Lose the hybrid, use biofuel and more cylinders, get the cars to 2009 dimensions and around 650kg weight.

[Altrezia]

I dont think they need to be hydrogen or anything smart like that - just renewable fuels only. No need for hybrid if you're running on non-dino-fuel.