P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Edd Straw, Scott Mitchell-Malm and Jon Noble predict the 2026 Formula 1 grid
After a crazy silly season in Formula 1, the focus now shifts to predicting the key movers for 2026. Uncertainty surrounding Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull leaves room for potential changes in the already filled driver spaces. The Race F1 Podcast’s experts foresee McLaren retaining Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri for 2026, provided their relationship holds up under potential title contention pressure in 2025. On the Ferrari front, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are expected to continue as the driver lineup in 2026, regardless of their performance in their first year together. The big question lingers around Verstappen, whether he will stay at Red Bull or make a move to Mercedes or Aston Martin for the 2026 season. The likelihood of Verstappen teaming up with Liam Lawson as his partner in 2026 is high, according to the expert panel, despite differing opinions on Verstappen’s potential departure. George Russell’s performance at Mercedes in 2025 and the emergence of rookie Kimi Antonelli add further intrigue to the 2026 driver market.
