Four Formula 2 stars who are aiming for a 2026 F1 seat including Max Verstappen’s ‘successor’

Follow us on Google Discover

Four Formula 2 drivers made the step up to F1 for the 2025 season in what was a chaotic driver market.

Champion Gabriel Bortoleto has impressed at Sauber with regular Q3 appearances and points finishes in recent races. 2024 Formula 2 runner-up Isack Hadjar has also been a standout performer for Racing Bulls in 2025 and is being tipped for a Red Bull seat next season.

PREMA teammate Oliver Bearman and Kimi Antonelli signed with Haas and Mercedes respectively, with both having mixed starts to their F1 careers. Bearman has been unlucky to miss out on more points, while Antonelli has lost confidence after scoring one point in the last four races.

The F1 driver market for 2026 season is not as chaotic, with eight seats available on the grid. Mercedes are set to retain Antonelli and George Russell for next season after rumours speculated that the Silver Arrows could sign Max Verstappen.

Racing Bulls and Cadillac are yet to confirm their drivers, while Red Bull and Alpine are deciding on Verstappen and Pierre Gasly’s teammates for 2026.

With the number of F2 drivers that joined the grid last season and the current negotiations ongoing, here are four drivers that will be aiming to earn a seat in F1 next season from the category below.

READ MORE: F1 2026 grid: all confirmed driver line-ups and rumours

Jak Crawford

The highest-ranked driver on this list, Jak Crawford is second in the F2 standings, 17 points behind championship leader Leonardo Fornaroli. The former Red Bull junior has limited options for 2026.

Crawford is currently Aston Martin’s reserve driver, but with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll having long-term contracts, he is unlikely to land a seat with the Silverstone outfit. Newcomers Cadillac are his only realistic option.

Crawford is ‘100%’ ready for Cadillac, with the team previously expressing a desire to sign an American driver. However, F1’s 11th team seem to have changed their approach, with Valtteri Bottas set to sign for Cadillac in the coming days.

It is unclear whether he will be partnered with an experienced driver or a younger option, but Cadillac will sign Crawford if they want an American driver. However, with Sergio Perez, Mick Schumacher and Felipe Drugovich ahead of him, Crawford’s 2026 chances in F1 look slim.

Alex Dunne

Similar to Crawford, McLaren junior Alex Dunne does not have the option to move to his current team in 2026, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri fighting for the championship.

The Irishman seriously impressed in FP1 in Austria, with Karun Chandhok telling Cadillac to consider Dunne for next season. He has since been linked with the American team, but he is quite far down their list of targets.

McLaren may consider loaning Dunne to Cadillac or letting him leave permanently, as they did with Bortoleto when he joined Sauber. Sitting fifth in the standings, another season in F2 seems most likely for the 19-year-old.

READ MORE: Who is McLaren junior driver Alex Dunne? Everything you need to know

Pepe Marti

Red Bull junior Pepe Marti is into his second season in F2 and has emerged as a top contender. He is 27 points behind Dunne in sixth with three wins to his name.

The Spaniard has not been mentioned in many rumours for a seat in 2026. But with three openings in Red Bull’s setup – one at the main team and two at Racing Bulls – he will be looking to throw his name into consideration if he can end the season strong.

Marti is Red Bull’s highest-ranked junior driver in F2 this season. While another season in the category below may benefit him more, the fact that he is beating the fourth driver on this list should at least make the Milton Keynes outfit look at him for 2026.

Arvid Lindblad

British sensation Arvid Lindblad has been by far the hottest prospect on the F1 driver market from F2. The 18-year-old has had a meteoric rise up the ranks, finishing fourth in Formula 3 last season before stepping up to F2, where he has grabbed two wins thus far.

Lindblad got special exemption for an FIA superlicence earlier this year as Red Bull wanted him as a reserve driver for 2025. The Brit is being prepared for a promotion to F1, with a seat at Racing Bulls looking highly likely.

Helmut Marko sees Lindblad as Verstappen’s ‘successor’, with Red Bull viewing him as the next talent to guide them to a championship. While he does not like the comparisons, he has shown his potential, with Lindblad matching Yuki Tsunoda’s pace during practice at Silverstone.

Lindblad ‘truly believes’ he will drive for Racing Bulls next season. Red Bull look keen to get him into F1 as soon as possible, and he will be an exciting talent to watch if he does earn a promotion.