The FIA’s official 2026 Formula 1 entry list has revealed an unexpected administrative quirk as the sport prepares for its most significant regulatory overhaul in decades. Despite Audi’s high-profile acquisition of the Hinwil-based operation, the legal entity remains registered as Sauber Motorsport AG, ensuring the Swiss name endures for at least one more season on paper even as the team races under the Audi Revolut banner.
The publication of the 11-team entry list confirms the long-awaited arrival of Cadillac as Formula 1’s newest constructor, marking the first grid expansion since Haas joined in 2016. The American manufacturer will field race-winning veterans Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, both returning after spending 2025 on the sidelines following their departures from Red Bull and Kick Sauber respectively.
Legal entity transition delays Sauber name removal
The persistence of the Sauber Motorsport AG designation reflects the complex legal processes involved in corporate restructuring at this scale. While Audi’s takeover has been complete for some time and the team will compete as Audi Revolut F1 Team following a title partnership with the fintech giant, the formal renaming of the company registered with the FIA remains in progress. This administrative detail means the Sauber name—a fixture in Formula 1 since 1993—will technically grace the entry list for a 34th consecutive season, even as all visible branding and operations carry the German manufacturer’s identity.
The situation mirrors similar transitions in Formula 1 history, where legal entities often lag behind the public-facing rebrand. The distinction between the registered company name and the racing team’s commercial identity is commonplace in the sport, though rarely does it involve such a historically significant nameplate.
Title sponsorship reshapes team identities
Beyond the Audi situation, the 2026 entry list showcases several major commercial developments. McLaren has elevated its relationship with Mastercard to full title partnership status, becoming McLaren Mastercard F1 Team in what represents the Woking squad’s first such arrangement since the Vodafone era ended over a decade ago. The move signals renewed commercial strength for the team that claimed the 2025 constructors’ championship and saw Lando Norris secure his first drivers’ title.
Haas has undergone perhaps the most striking transformation, with Toyota’s involvement resulting in the TGR Haas F1 Team designation. The Japanese manufacturer’s commitment to the American outfit represents a significant technical and commercial boost as the sport enters its new power unit regulations.
Driver number reshuffles and rookie arrival
Championship honours dictate that Norris will adopt the coveted number 1 for 2026, vacating his number 4. Max Verstappen, surrendering the top spot after four consecutive titles, has opted for number 3 rather than returning to his original number 33. The four-time world champion takes the number previously held by Daniel Ricciardo, whose Formula 1 career concluded at the end of 2024.
The most significant driver movement sees Isack Hadjar promoted from Racing Bulls to Red Bull Racing alongside Verstappen, with Yuki Tsunoda surprisingly sidelined to test and reserve duties despite five seasons of grand prix experience. Hadjar’s ascent opens a seat at Racing Bulls for 18-year-old Arvid Lindblad, who becomes the grid’s sole rookie for 2026 carrying number 41. The British teenager’s promotion follows an impressive junior career and represents a continuation of Red Bull’s aggressive youth development strategy.
Cadillac arrival expands grid to 11 teams
The American manufacturer’s entry as TWG Cadillac Formula 1 Team marks a watershed moment for the sport’s commercial landscape. After years of resistance from existing teams concerned about prize money dilution, Formula 1 and the FIA ultimately embraced expansion, recognising the value of General Motors’ involvement and the American market appeal Cadillac brings.
The team’s driver pairing of Perez and Bottas offers immediate experience, with the duo combining for 30 grand prix victories between them. Perez returns after a difficult 2024 campaign culminated in his Red Bull departure, while Bottas spent 2025 away from the grid following his exit from what was then Kick Sauber. Both drivers competing for Ferrari power units creates an intriguing dynamic as they attempt to establish Cadillac’s credentials against established constructors.
The entry list confirms Mercedes power for Cadillac was never on the table, with the American squad instead securing Ferrari engines alongside Haas and the Ferrari works team. This allocation leaves Mercedes supplying four teams—its own works outfit, McLaren, Williams, and Alpine.
Power unit landscape takes shape under new regulations
The 2026 season introduces Formula 1’s most radical power unit regulations since hybrid technology arrived in 2014. The entry list reveals the distribution of engine supply across six manufacturers: Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull Ford, Honda, and Audi all provide their own power, while Cadillac relies on Ferrari customer units for its debut season.
Red Bull’s Ford partnership extends to Racing Bulls, giving the American brand a presence across four cars. Honda’s return as a full works partner with Aston Martin represents another significant shift in the power unit landscape, with the Japanese manufacturer ending its Red Bull collaboration to forge a new long-term relationship with the Silverstone-based operation.
The regulatory overhaul fundamentally alters the balance between electrical and internal combustion power, with the MGU-K’s output nearly tripling while the MGU-H disappears entirely. These changes, combined with new chassis regulations emphasising reduced weight and improved aerodynamic efficiency, position 2026 as perhaps the most significant reset in modern Formula 1 history.
What the 2026 grid means for the championship landscape
The expanded field and regulatory revolution create unprecedented uncertainty heading into the new era. Established hierarchies face disruption as teams navigate technical challenges and attempt to optimise fundamentally different machinery. Audi’s works entry and Cadillac’s arrival inject fresh competition and financial resources, while traditional powerhouses must prove their development capabilities translate to the new formula.
Driver movements create fascinating subplots, from Hamilton’s continuing Ferrari partnership to Verstappen’s challenge of maintaining dominance with revised regulations. The return of Perez and Bottas in unfamiliar surroundings, coupled with rookies like Lindblad and the continued development of young talents such as Antonelli and Bortoleto, ensures generational competition alongside the established stars. As teams finalise their preparations and reveal their 2026 challengers in the coming months, the sport stands on the threshold of its most significant transformation in over a decade.
