For the first time since 2016, Formula 1 will feature 11 teams and 22 cars on the grid. Cadillac is entering the sport with Bottas and Pérez behind the wheel. But as a brand-new outfit starting completely from scratch, they face some serious challenges. In this GPFans Special, we break down why their debut might not be as smooth as it seems.
Team orders — after last weekend, they're once again a hot topic in Formula 1. The FIA once banned them, but today they're completely legal. Why do teams use them, why do drivers follow them, and how does F1 really see these instructions?
David Coulthard believes his former team McLaren have manipulated the Italian Grand Prix by swapping Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris at the end of the race. While swapping drivers is certainly nothing new, it normally never happens when team-mates are direct rivals for the championship, and Coulthard can’t help but feel uneasy about the situation.
Max Verstappen has credited his new team principal Laurent Mekies for how much he’s pushing the team in the right direction in terms of car development. Verstappen added it’s better than under Christian Horner’s management, where changes would be extreme and the team wasn’t on top of the car.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has warned McLaren that the team orders they are deploying could be a very slippery slope by setting a precedent that is difficult to undo.
According to The Race, Mick Schumacher has turned down Cadillac’s offer to become their F1 reserve and WEC driver. Currently racing in WEC with Alpine, the former F3 and F2 champion is also in talks with McLaren about joining their endurance team in 2027.
Cadillac has announced Colton Herta as one of its test drivers for 2026, as the American will also compete in Formula 2 in a bid to secure enough Super License points to race in F1. Herta has left his seat at Andretti in IndyCar and will actively pursue a seat with the Cadillac F1 team in the near future.
Jacques Villeneuve has absolutely slammed Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli for his collision with Charles Leclerc on Sunday at Zandvoort, calling it a move you’d normally only see in Formula 3 or 4. On top of that, the former world champion questioned whether Antonelli should be in F1 altogether.
Lewis Hamilton has been given a grid penalty following the Dutch Grand Prix, where he was the first driver to drop out of the race. Hamilton will have to serve this penalty this weekend at Ferrari’s home race, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
The FIA have announced ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix that they’re going to increase the pitlane speed limit from 60 to 80 kilometres per hour.
It’s official! Cadillac have announced their line-up for their debut season in 2026 and they’ve gone for experience as both Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas will be suiting up for the American team next year, when they will form the 11th team on the grid.
German outlet Auto Motor und Sport have reported Isack Hadjar will be promoted to Red Bull Racing in 2026, while Yuki Tsunoda will be left without a seat at both Red Bull and Racing Bulls. Arvid Lindblad will be promoted to F1 and drive alongside Liam Lawson, according to the very reliable German outlet.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has responded to Max Verstappen’s claim that the papaya cars are the quickest in medium-speed corners. Stella agrees, noting that McLaren’s advantage lies almost entirely in those sections – which make up the majority of turns on the F1 calendar.
An interesting story has emerged regarding Red Bull Racing. According to Japanese sources, Red Bull’s majority stakeholder, Chalerm Yoovidhya, wants his fellow countryman Alex Albon to return to the team should Max Verstappen leave in the future. Yoovidhya had reportedly already inquired about Albon for next year, before Verstappen announced that he would not be leaving the team.
The Prime Minister of Portugal, Luís Montenegro, has announced that Formula 1 will almost certainly return to Portimão in 2027. Montenegro stated that F1’s return to his country only needs to be formalized next year, as Portugal has already secured MotoGP for both 2025 and 2026.
A new report from PlanetF1 suggests Sergio Perez is set to be announced as the lead Cadillac F1 driver for next season, with a rookie expected to fill the second seat.
Red Bull sacking Christian Horner is one of the key reasons why Max Verstappen has stayed at the team, former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher believes. Schumacher argues the dismissal showed to Verstappen that they were willing to do anything to turn the team’s fortunes around.
Ferrari have extended the contract of team principal Fred Vasseur. The Frenchman was under real threat to lose his job according to the Italian media only last month, but Ferrari have put an end to this speculation by extending his contract by multiple years.
The FIA left many fans disappointed in Belgium. Spectators were eagerly anticipating a thrilling wet race at Spa-Francorchamps, but the FIA delayed the start for so long that the race effectively took place after the rain had passed. Why did the FIA make that decision and could things have been handled differently?
The saga is over, everyone. Red Bull Racing have confirmed Max Verstappen will be staying at the team for 2026, squashing all rumours of a potential move elsewhere like Mercedes.
