Lando Norris
McLaren
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Williams
Racing Bulls
Aston Martin
Haas
Alpine
The 11 Formula 1 teams finalised their 2026 driver line-ups before the end of the 2025 campaign, and each is just as intriguing as the last.
With most drivers having long-term contracts with their respective outfits, the Formula 1 driver market saw minimal movement for the 2026 season. But there were still four transfers to keep fans on their toes for next year.
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Most of the movement was done by Red Bull, who opted for yet more driver switches among their two teams. Isack Hadjar will replace Yuki Tsunoda at the main team, while Arvid Lindblad will move up to Racing Bulls from F2.
Newcomers Cadillac were, naturally, the team to make the other two changes to the grid as they signed Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez for their first driver pairing. The American brand joins Audi as a new outfit in F1 in 2026 ahead of the new regulations.
Formula 1 fans decide McLaren have the best driver line-up for the 2026 season
The rest of the grid have opted for the same line-up as 2025 as F1 moves into a new era of sustainability and electrification. With these new rules, and based on last season’s events, fans were asked by the official F1 website to vote for the team with the best pairing.
With more than a third of the vote, at 35%, defending double world champions McLaren were chosen as the best. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, as 2025 proved, create a formidable driver pairing in Woking, both capable of winning races and fighting for the championship.
Prove us wrong: McLaren have the BEST driver line-up on the 2026 grid
Ferrari came in second with 18% of the vote. On paper, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc is still one of the strongest pairings of all time, but that did not translate to performance as the duo went winless in 2025.
Completing the podium is Red Bull, with Hadjar and Max Verstappen getting 16% of the vote. The former will hope to end the team’s second driver problems, while the latter will be aiming to return to the top spot.
Cadillac narrowly edged Mercedes with 11% to 10%, while Williams’ Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz earned 7%. Audi, Alpine and Aston Martin got 1%, while Haas and Racing Bulls were the only teams to receive no votes.
READ MORE: All you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine
McLaren have kept Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, but how long will this pairing last?
McLaren have consistently stated that they want two number one drivers in their line-up. In Norris and Piastri, they have exactly that, therefore making it unsurprising that they take the top spot for the best 2026 pair.
But the duo was not exactly harmonious in 2025 as they fought for the championship. Many believed that McLaren were favouring Norris over Piastri with team orders, including the latter’s camp, who were left unimpressed by their driver’s treatment.
McLaren will be looking to maintain their dominance in 2026, but they could be at risk of dismantling their pairing. Piastri is being linked with Ferrari, as well as Red Bull, amid his frustrations over how 2025 was handled.
There could even be changes on the other side of the garage, as Norris is also a target for Ferrari. McLaren have the perfect driver line-up at their disposal, but they are in danger of that coming undone in 2026.
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