Ranking every F1 team's 2026 driver lineup

For the first time since 2016, the F1 season will feature 11 teams and 22 drivers on the grid. This year's group is one of the most talented in recent memory, with nine teams boasting at least one race winner. With the season-opening Australian Grand Prix just a few days away, there isn't a better time to rank all the driver lineups.

11. Racing Bulls

Racing Bulls will start the season as the lowest partnership, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for the team to move up. Red Bull has high hopes for the 18-year-old rookie Lindblad, who will have 24 opportunities with the junior team to repay his backers' faith. After a disastrous two-race stint with Red Bull last season, Lawson found solid ground with Racing Bulls. Though he was passed over for a promotion back to Red Bull in favor of Isack Hadjar, Lawson quietly finished in the points in six of his last 14 grand prix appearances in 2025.

10. Cadillac

Cadillac's decision to prioritize experience in its debut season has sound logic. Who better to drive development than two pilots with over 500 race starts combined? However, the choices of Bottas and Perez felt uninspiring, given that both were out of the sport in 2025 and have reputations as wingmen rather than leaders. But with redemption and potentially Colton Herta waiting in the wings for Cadillac, the veteran drivers should be hungry as ever to get a shot at erasing the narratives surrounding their careers. Conversely, this season could reinforce why their former teams dropped them just a couple of years ago.

9. Alpine

There's no questioning that Gasly was one of the most underrated drivers last season and has morphed into one of the most reliable sets of hands on the grid. The true ceiling and potential of the Alpine lineup will hinge on Colapinto taking that next step. The Argentine still hasn't scored points since the 2024 United States Grand Prix, and he hasn't made Q3 since the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Hopefully a Mercedes power unit and a better car allow Colapinto to demonstrate more of his ability, because that's the only concern holding Alpine back from being in the middle of the pack when it comes to the strength of its driver pairing.

8. Audi

Bortoleto showed flashes during his rookie season, while Hulkenberg has been renowned for his pace but has lacked results over his career. The German driver finally got his long-awaited first podium last season but still had some significant, albeit rather unusual, lulls throughout the 2025 calendar. Though signs of decline might be creeping in, Hulkenberg still carries a high floor. Meanwhile, Bortoleto's baseline should continue to rise.

7. Haas

Much like Audi, Haas' lineup features a youngster with a rocket seemingly strapped to him and a veteran coming off a somewhat disappointing season. Ocon was battered by Bearman last year despite being a consistently solid midfield driver for a better portion of his career. Bearman appears destined to be one of F1's next top talents if he can polish up a few rough edges. Should Ocon regain his earlier form and Bearman continue his ascension, this Haas lineup could be one of the most well-balanced groups on the grid.

6. Aston Martin

There isn't a lineup that features two drivers more different than Alonso and Stroll. Although Alonso showed early signs of decline in 2025, the two-time world champion returned to his usual self from Imola onwards, driving at a level that rivalled some of the top stars on the grid. Age could get the better of Alonso periodically, but Father Time still has no answer for him. On the other hand, there's not much to say anymore about Stroll, who has cemented his place in the bottom tier of drivers and will likely hold Aston Martin from reaching its maximum potential.

5. Williams

On paper, the first year of the Albon-Sainz partnership went great for Williams. The team frequently scored points, collected two podiums, and finished fifth in the constructors' standings for the first time since 2017. However, this pairing still has even greater potential, as both left quite a lot of meat on the bone in 2025 despite the accolades. Albon had a terrific first half of the season before entering a slump, while Sainz was a late bloomer, picking up both the team's podiums in the final eight races. This lineup is among the most experienced and capable of delivering solid results, though it would be terrific if the duo could fire on all cylinders at the same time.

4. Mercedes

Russell continued to make a strong case last season for why he's among the best drivers on the grid. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised Russell in the past for always delivering the car's potential, and his results speak volumes to that. Had Mercedes provided machinery capable of fighting for a title, there's little doubt the British driver would've been crowned a champion by now. Antonelli should only get better from here after a rookie season that had some incredible highs and some nightmare lows. Right now, this lineup is just outside the top three due to Antonelli's inconsistency, but it wouldn't shock anyone if this partnership is discussed as one of the best on the grid after the 2026 season ends.

3. Ferrari

Ferrari's lineup takes a step back after a disappointing debut season in red for Hamilton. While Hamilton has shown concerning signs of decline for well over a year, he'll be granted one more pass thanks to the departure of the ground-effect cars, which he notoriously struggled with. After all, you'd rather be late to calling the greatest driver in the sport's history washed up than early, only to get proven wrong and look foolish. When it comes to Leclerc, there's nothing to question. He's proven that he can still find a way to extract poles and podiums, even if Ferrari can't give him the machinery to win races. The only real question about Leclerc isn't whether he'll become a world champion, but when.

2. Red Bull

Red Bull is poised to secure one of the top spots despite essentially being a one-man team. It might even have a strong case for No. 1. And that's because Red Bull's star driver, Verstappen, is widely regarded as the best on the grid. The four-time champion's title reign ended last season, but he left little room for doubt about who was the best pilot, as he almost erased the largest points deficit in the sport's history. However, there's optimism that Red Bull could have a wingman for Verstappen in Hadjar, who had a terrific rookie campaign. If Hadjar can avoid the dreaded Red Bull second-seat curse, it won't take much for him to move the needle and bump this lineup into the top spot.

1. McLaren

There isn't a more well-balanced partnership in F1 than McLaren at the moment. Both Norris and Piastri have developed into worthy title contenders - and in Norris' case, a world champion. Despite winning the drivers' title last season, Norris arguably hasn't reached his peak. Meanwhile, Piastri has taken significant leaps each year, with 2025 being his biggest yet. The Australian is far from hitting his ceiling, but the first half of last season offered a glimpse of the heights Piastri can reach when he's comfortable. Pound for pound, there isn't a driver pairing that can hold up against the fast, successful, and now battle-tested McLaren duo.

Daniel Valente is theScore's lead Formula 1 writer. Daniel has covered the sport for multiple years, conducting analysis and interviewing key figures inside the paddock. His expertise is breaking down data and discovering unique stats. Follow Daniel on X at @F1GuyDan.