The 2026 F1 Grid: McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari

The driver pairings for the 2026 season of Formula One have been confirmed, and with changes like an emergent Cadillac, an Audi F1 team, and of course, brand new regulations, this next season is shaping up to be quite the year. This in mind, let's take a look at these new pairings for each F1 team, starting with McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari, and see how they stack up against the rest of the grid.

McLaren:

-Lando Norris

McLaren's golden boy returns for another season as a Papaya. Going in to Abu Dhabi, Norris has a good shot at winning his first WDC, and the first from a McLaren driver since Lewis Hamilton. This isn't to say he has been perfect though, as some of his performances early in the season, and even as of late in Qatar, haven't been flawless, to say the least. Even with this in mind though, it is undeniabe that Lando has had a statement year, putting up 17 podiums to go with 7 wins.

-Oscar Piastri

Despite a relatively poor showing in most races since Zandvoort, Piastri has still had a milestone season in his blooming career. With 7 wins on the season, and plenty of solid drives, Oscar has undoubtedly proved his worth, even with his faltering in the past few months.

Pairing Rating: 93

2 of the best drivers in F1, despite both of their flaws. It is a no-brainer to have McLaren as one of, if not the best pairing on the grid. If Lando proves he can handle pressure, and Oscar proves he can stay consistent, McLaren's two drivers could make a historically good pair.

Red Bull:

-Max Verstappen

The (as of now) reigning world champion, the 70 time Grand Prix winner, and the driver on the grid who needs almost no introduction. Max is in the midst of a potential comeback to swipe the WDC from Papaya hands, and has proved through countless great drives, this and past seasons, that he is a generational talent. Next year's new regulations will test Max, but he if anybody is likely to thrive under the change. In all, the consensus best on the grid, despite some flaws, and quite the temper

-Isack Hadjar

Promoted to spend his sophmore season in the seat of doom, Isack Hadjar has put on quite the show in his first F1 season, driving for VCARB. The Frenchman takes the spot of Yuki "Pookie" Tsunoda, who will act as a reserve driver for Red Bull next season after a disappointing 2025 campaign. Hadjar's rookie showing has been impressive to say the least, getting the better of his teammate, and getting a podium finish in Zandvoort. Many are sad to see Yuki go, but Hadjar seems the better choice for Red Bull next year.

Pairing Rating: 89

Verstappen is unquestionably one of the best drivers out there, but Hadjar hasn't proved himself to be truly elite yet. This and the history of the Red Bull 2nd seat lends a bit less credibility to the overall strength of the pair.

Mercedes:

-George Russell

Despite a history of crashes (sprouting an interesting nickname), Russell has been one of the most consistent drivers on the grid this season, bagging 9 podiums and 2 wins in a year dominated by 3 drivers not including himself. He has finished in the top 10 of every single Grand Prix this season barring Monaco, and proved himself more than worthy of the contract Mercedes gave him. His new deal with the Silver Arrows has encouraged him further, and he continues to look like one of the best drivers on the grid.

-Kimi Antonelli

The Italian newcomer has done wonders late this season, contrasting his mid-year slump. Antonelli has achieved 2 podiums in the past 3 races, with a solid P5 in Qatar. Kimi's sophmore season looks to be interesting, with him settling into his Mercedes seat and having to adapt to new regulations. Theres no telling what the future holds for Antonelli, but a safe bet would be a good few more solid results.

Pairing Rating: 89

George and Kimi both look like incredible drivers going into 2026, with results to back that thought up, but Antonelli's inexperience levels out with Russell's consistency, holding Mercedes back from the highest tier of driver pairings.

Ferrari:

-Charles Leclerc

The face of Ferrari for half a decade now, Charles Leclerc has no shortage of awe inspiring drives. Year in and year out Leclerc has shown why he is one of the best drivers on the grid, consistently outperforming his teammates and finishing near the top of the championship standings. Despite this, Leclerc has never put it all together to win a WDC, in part thanks to his own failures, in part due to Ferrari. This season in particular has been a disappointment, with no wins for Leclerc, who sits at a distant 5th in the championship. When all's said and done though, Charles is unquestionably a top driver, and time will tell how he does with new regulations and (crucially) a new car.

-Lewis Hamilton

7 time world champion, more than 100 Grand Prix victories, 202 podiums, and yet nothing but a sprint victory with Ferrari thus far. Since the 2021 season, Lewis Hamilton has been, for lack of a better term, a shell of his former self. He has struggled under the 2022 regulations, and has only won 2 Grand Prix. His maiden season with Ferrari has been a disappointment as well, with no podiums to show for his 23 races thus far. That said, Hamilton's talent and greatness is undeniable, and with new regulations set for 2026, next could be Lewis' turnaround year.

Pairing Rating: 90

On paper, the two Ferrari drivers seem to be far and away the best pair on the grid, but due to a slow car and mistakes, this season has done all but prove that sentiment. Despite that, Leclerc and Hamilton remain a powerhouse pairing, and once they have a competitive car under them, it's all the more likely that we will see what these 2 proven talents are capable of.

There are far more teams to cover for the complete 2026 grid, so come back soon to see how the rest of the pack stacks up to the powerhouses of F1.