The FIA has released the entry list, the list of drivers for the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship. With the new technical regulations coming into effect, the grid welcomes new faces and major returns, but fans’ attention is primarily focused on the racing numbers that drivers will display on the new cars.
The new season, which also inaugurates the 2026 regulatory cycle, will see significant changes in racing numbers and a grid expanded to 11 teams, as confirmed by the official document published by the FIA. The 2026 championship will see several innovations with the entry of new manufacturers and high-profile strategic collaborations.
Key points of the number update:
- The new number 1: Lando Norris will use number 1 as the defending champion, leaving his historic 4.
- Verstappen’s choice: Max Verstappen has chosen number 3, which officially became available after Daniel Ricciardo’s departure from the top flight.
- New entries: Arvid Lindblad is the only absolute rookie to have confirmed his number (#41), while Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas keep their historic numbers for the Cadillac team’s debut.
| No. | DRIVER | TEAM | POWER UNIT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mastercard F1 Team | Mercedes |
| 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mastercard F1 Team | Mercedes |
| 63 | George Russell | Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team | Mercedes |
| 12 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team | Mercedes |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Oracle Red Bull Racing | Red Bull Ford |
| 6 | Isack Hadjar | Oracle Red Bull Racing | Red Bull Ford |
| 16 | Charles Leclerc | Scuderia Ferrari HP | Ferrari |
| 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Scuderia Ferrari HP | Ferrari |
| 23 | Alexander Albon | Atlassian Williams F1 Team | Mercedes |
| 55 | Carlos Sainz | Atlassian Williams F1 Team | Mercedes |
| 41 | Arvid Lindblad | Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team | Red Bull Ford |
| 30 | Liam Lawson | Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team | Red Bull Ford |
| 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team | Honda |
| 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team | Honda |
| 31 | Esteban Ocon | TGR Haas F1 Team | Ferrari |
| 87 | Oliver Bearman | TGR Haas F1 Team | Ferrari |
| 27 | Nico Hülkenberg | Audi Revolut F1 Team | Audi |
| 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi Revolut F1 Team | Audi |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | BWT Alpine Formula One Team | Mercedes |
| 43 | Franco Colapinto | BWT Alpine Formula One Team | Mercedes |
| 11 | Sergio Perez | Cadillac Formula 1 Team | Ferrari |
| 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac Formula 1 Team | Ferrari |
New numbers for 2026 F1 drivers: Norris, Verstappen and Lindblad the big news
The FIA has published the official Formula 1 entry list for the 2026 season and, along with the list of teams, significant changes in driver racing numbers are emerging.
The main news concerns Lando Norris, who after winning the world title will use number 1, as per the tradition reserved for the defending champion, abandoning his historic #4.
Max Verstappen is also changing numbers: the Dutchman will not return to the #33 used until 2021, but will switch to number 3, which became available after Daniel Ricciardo’s exit.
Among the debutants, the only rookie registered for 2026 will be Arvid Lindblad. The 18-year-old British driver of Indian and Swedish descent, a new entry on the grid, has chosen number 41. Lindblad takes the place of Isack Hadjar, who was promoted to Red Bull, while Yuki Tsunoda will remain out of a race seat, taking on the role of test and reserve driver for Red Bull.
2026 F1 Teams: Cadillac joins the grid, Audi debuts, and Red Bull partnered by Ford
The 2026 entry list confirms a Formula 1 with 11 teams, with several significant developments on the constructor front.
The main one concerns Cadillac, which will make its official F1 debut as the eleventh team. The American squad will also bring two highly experienced names back to the grid: Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, both absent in the 2025 season.
There is also room for Audi’s debut in the top category. Formally, the FIA list still shows the name Sauber Motorsport AG, as the legal transition process is ongoing, but the team will race as Audi Revolut F1 Team, marking the official entry of the German manufacturer into Formula 1.
Among the name changes, McLaren becomes McLaren Mastercard F1 Team, thanks to a new title sponsorship, while Haas will take the name TGR Haas F1 Team following the agreement with Toyota.
Finally, the collaboration between Red Bull and Ford is confirmed, which will accompany the Austrian team into the new regulatory era of Formula 1 starting from 2026.