After a scintillating end of the 2025 season, which saw Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Max Verstappen all still have a chance to win the World Drivers' Championship in the final race in Abu Dhabi, the biggest motorsport spectacle on earth returns for a 77th season, starting on Sunday, March 8th, in Melbourne, Australia.
With a host of new regulations, one brand-new team, a new defending champion, and completely different cars, the 2026 Formula 1 season is set to provide even more entertainment, shock and sensation across the 24-race calendar.
Flashscore takes you through all the new rules, changes, and necessary info ahead of the upcoming 2026 F1 season.
The New 2026 Formula 1 Regulations
The governing body, FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile), confirmed a host of new regulations for the Formula 1 cars in June 2024. It is, with right, considered the biggest overhaul in the sport's history.
From 2026, the cars will feature new designs, making them generally lighter, shorter, and narrower. Tires will also be slimmer, offering less aerodynamic resistance. Similarly, the wings will be more dynamic, and the familiar DRS system will be replaced by a new format called 'Active Aero', which features active front and rear wings that adjust the angle depending on where they are on the track.
DRS has officially vanished from the sport, but lives on vicariously through 'Overtake Mode', which provides the driver with extra electrical energy to deploy when they're within one second of the car in front.
The biggest change, however, is in the power unit, which is set to deliver nearly 300% more electric power. Mercedes appears to have found a loophole in the regulations, sparking significant controversy that has been temporarily resolved pending further updates.
To learn everything about the new Formula 1 regulations, read our article HERE
Teams and Drivers: The Favourites
Lando Norris will defend his title with McLaren, where Oscar Piastri will try to dethrone his teammate after a frustrating end to his 2025 season.
Four-time World Champion Max Verstappen, now partnered with young Frenchman Isack Hadjar at Red Bull, looks set to return to top form with an improved car. Mercedes joins the fight with its powerful new unit and unchanged drivers' lineup, and Ferrari, especially with Charles Leclerc, has shown strong competitiveness in preseason testing.
Teams and Drivers: The Newcomers
Further down the pack, the line-up has been shaken up by the addition of an eleventh team: Cadillac, which will debut in F1. Former Red Bull ace Sergio Pérez and former Mercedes star Valtteri Bottas have joined the American team after short hiatuses from the sport.
The historic Formula 1 team Sauber has been acquired by Audi, whose name will appear in the sport for the first time in the company's rich automotive history.
F1 will see just one driver make his debut in the premier class of auto racing: the Swedish-British Arvid Lindblad has come through the famed Red Bull ranks and will race for Racing Bulls alongside Liam Lawson.
Drivers and Teams for the 2026 F1 World Championship
McLaren: Lando Norris (Great Britain), Oscar Piastri (Australia).
Red Bull: Max Verstappen (Netherlands), Isack Hadjar (France).
Mercedes: Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Italy), George Russell (Great Britain).
Alpine: Franco Colapinto (Argentina), Pierre Gasly (France)
Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso (Spain), Lance Stroll (Canada)
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc (Monaco), Lewis Hamilton (Great Britain)
Williams: Alexander Albon (Thailand), Carlos Sainz Jr. (Spain).
Audi: Gabriel Bortoleto (Brazil), Nico Hülkenberg (Germany).
Racing Bulls: Liam Lawson (New Zealand), Arvid Lindblad (Great Britain).
Cadillac: Sergio Pérez (Mexico), Valtteri Bottas (Finland).
Haas: Esteban Ocon (France), Oliver Bearman (Great Britain).
The 2026 F1 Calendar
For the first time since Valencia was removed from the F1 calendar in 2012, Spain will host two Formula One Grands Prix, with a street circuit in Madrid hosting a race on Sunday, September 13th. The Madring, as the track has been named, will host the Spanish Grand Prix, making the Grand Prix in Barcelona the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
The Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix and the Belgian Grand Prix at the iconic Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps will be in their final years as permanent features on the calendar, with the two tracks alternating from 2027 through 2032.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be held on Saturday, September 26th, to honour the country's Remembrance Day on Sunday, September 27th.
The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, held at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, will not be featured on the F1 calendar for the first time since 2020.
The Dutch Grand Prix at the Circuit Zandvoort will be held for the last time after the local promoter did not extend the contract with the FIA.
Full Calendar: Tracks, Dates and Times (GMT)
* = Sprint race weekend
Australian Grand Prix: Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia - March 8 (04:00)
Chinese Grand Prix*: Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China - March 15 (07:00)
Japanese Grand Prix: Suzuka International Racing Course, Suzuka, Japan - March 29 (06:00)
Bahrain Grand Prix: Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - April 12 (16:00)
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - April 19 (18:00)
Miami Grand Prix*: Miami International Autodrome, Miami Gardens, United States - May 3 (21:00)
Canadian Grand Prix*: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montréal, Canada - May 24 (21:00)
Monaco Grand Prix: Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo, Monaco - June 7 (14:00)
Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix: Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmeló, Spain - June 14 (14:00)
Austrian Grand Prix: Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria - June 28 (14:00)
British Grand Prix*: Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Great Britain - July 5 (15:00)
Belgian Grand Prix: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium - July 19 (14:00)
Hungarian Grand Prix: Hungaroring, Mogyoród, Hungary - July 26 (14:00)
Summer break
Dutch Grand Prix*: Circuit Zandvoort, Zandvoort, the Netherlands - August 23, (14:00)
Italian Grand Prix: Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy - September 6 (14:00)
Spanish Grand Prix: Madring, Madrid, Spain - September 13 (14:00)
Azerbaijan Grand Prix: Baku City Circuit, Baku, Azerbaijan - September 26 (12:00)
Singapore Grand Prix*: Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore - October 11 (13:00)
United States Grand Prix: Circuit of the Americas, Austin, United States - October 25 (20:00)
Mexican Grand Prix: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City, Mexico - November 1 (20:00)
Brazilian Grand Prix: Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo, Brazil - November 8 (19:00)
Las Vegas Grand Prix: Las Vegas Street Circuit, Las Vegas, United States - November 22 (04:00)
Qatar Grand Prix: Lusail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar - November 29 (16:00)
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - December 6 (13:00)
Points System for Main Races and Sprints
The system remains unchanged from previous years: 25 points for the race winner, 18 for second place, and 15 for third. Fourth place earns 12 points; from there, each position receives two points less than the previous, with the tenth-placed driver receiving one point.
In sprint races, the winner will continue to receive eight points, with one point less for each subsequent position down to eighth.
Grand Prix (Main Race)
1st = 25 points
2nd = 18 points
3rd = 15 points
4th = 12 points
5th = 10 points
6th = 8 points
7th = 6 points
8th = 4 points
9th = 2 points
10th = 1 point
Fastest lap = 1 point (with top-10 finish)
Sprint Race
1st = 8 points
2nd = 7 points
3rd = 6 points
4th = 5 points
5th = 4 points
6th = 3 points
7th = 2 points
8th = 1 point
Recent World Drivers’ Championship Winners
2025: Lando Norris (McLaren, 423 points)
2024: Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing, 437 points)
2023: Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing, 575 points)
2022: Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing, 454 points)
2021: Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing, 395.5 points)
2020: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes, 347 points)
2019: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes, 413 points)
2018: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes, 408 points)
2017: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes, 363 points)
2016: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes, 385 points)
2015: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes, 381 points)
2014: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes, 384 points)
Recent Constructors’ Championship Winners
2025: McLaren (Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, 833 points)
2024: McLaren (Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, 666 points)
2023: Red Bull Racing (Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez, 860 points)
2022: Red Bull Racing (Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez, 759 points)
2021: Mercedes (Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, 613.5 points)
2020: Mercedes (Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas and George Russell, 573 points)
2019: Mercedes (Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, 739 points)
2018: Mercedes (Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, 655 points)
2017: Mercedes (Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, 668 points)
2016: Mercedes (Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, 765 points)
2015: Mercedes (Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, 703 points)
2014: Mercedes (Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, 701 points)