Formula 1: 2026 Season Kicks Off with New Era and Familiar Rivalries

The 2026 Formula 1 season begins with the Australian Grand Prix on Saturday, March 7 (U.S. Time), promising a thrilling contest as McLaren aims for a third consecutive constructors’ championship. Ferrari and Mercedes are poised to be their main challengers, while significant technical changes for 2026 are set to shake up the competitive landscape.

Key Contenders for the 2026 Championship

Reigning drivers’ champion Lando Norris of McLaren enters the season as a favorite, having ended Max Verstappen’s four-year dominance. Alongside Norris, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, and Mercedes’ George Russell are all expected to be in contention for the drivers’ championship.

Teams and Drivers for the 2026 Season

Here’s a breakdown of the teams and their drivers for the 2026 season:

• Alpine: Team Chief: Flavio Briatore; Drivers: Franco Colapinto, Pierre Gasly
• Aston Martin: Team Chief: Adrian Newey; Drivers: Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll
• Audi: Team Chief: Jonathan Wheatley; Drivers: Gabriel Bortoleto, Nico Hülkenberg
• Cadillac: Team Chief: Graham Lowdon; Drivers: Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Pérez
• Ferrari: Team Chief: Frédéric Vasseur; Drivers: Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc
• Haas: Team Chief: Ayao Komatsu; Drivers: Oliver Bearman, Esteban Ocon
• McLaren: Team Chief: Andrea Stella; Drivers: Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri
• Mercedes: Team Chief: Toto Wolff; Drivers: Kimi Antonelli, George Russell
• Red Bull Racing: Team Chief: Laurent Mekies; Drivers: Isack Hadjar, Max Verstappen
• Racing Bulls: Team Chief: Alan Permane; Drivers: Liam Lawson, Arvid Lindblad
• Williams: Team Chief: James Vowles; Drivers: Alexander Albon, Carlos Sainz Jr.

2026 Formula 1 Schedule

All races will be broadcast exclusively on Apple TV in the U.S.

• March 7 — Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit), 11 p.m. ET
• March 15 — Chinese Grand Prix (Shanghai International Circuit), 3 a.m. ET
• March 29 — Japanese Grand Prix (Suzuka International Racing Course), 1 a.m. ET
• April 12 — Bahrain Grand Prix (Bahrain International Circuit), 11 a.m. ET
• April 19 — Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (Jeddah Street Circuit), 1 p.m. ET
• May 3 — Miami Grand Prix (Miami International Autodrome), 4 p.m. ET
• May 24 — Canadian Grand Prix (Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve), 4 p.m. ET
• June 7 — Monaco Grand Prix (Circuit de Monaco), 9 a.m. ET
• June 14 — Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix (Circuit de Catalunya), 9 a.m. ET
• June 28 — Austrian Grand Prix (Red Bull Ring), 9 a.m. ET
• July 5 — British Grand Prix (Silverstone Circuit), 10 a.m. ET
• July 19 — Belgium Grand Prix (Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps), 9 a.m. ET
• July 26 — Hungarian Grand Prix (Hungaroring), 9 a.m. ET
• Aug. 23 — Dutch Grand Prix (Circuit Park Zandvoort), 9 a.m. ET
• Sept. 6 — Italian Grand Prix (Autodromo Nazionale Monza), 9 a.m. ET
• Sept. 13 — Spanish Grand Prix (Madring), 9 a.m. ET
• Sept. 26 — Azerbaijan Grand Prix (Baku City Circuit), 7 a.m. ET
• Oct. 11 — Singapore Grand Prix (Marina Bay Street Circuit), 8 a.m. ET
• Oct. 25 — United States Grand Prix (Circuit of the Americas), 4 p.m. ET
• Nov. 1 — Mexico City Grand Prix (Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez), 3 p.m. ET
• Nov. 8 — São Paulo Grand Prix (Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace), 12 p.m. ET
• Nov. 21 — Las Vegas Grand Prix (Las Vegas Street Circuit), 11 p.m. ET
• Nov. 29 — Qatar Grand Prix (Losail International Circuit), 11 a.m. ET
• Dec. 6 — Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Yas Marina Circuit), 8 a.m. ET

The 2026 season promises to be a captivating one, with established rivalries and new challenges shaping the battle for supremacy in Formula 1. Fans can glance forward to a season filled with high-speed action and dramatic moments, now exclusively on Apple TV in the United States.