The puzzle of the 2026 Formula 1 grid is starting to take shape as teams focus exclusively on the new regulations set to revolutionize the sport in just a few months. Following the contractual upheaval that shook the paddock, including Lewis Hamilton’s surprising move to Scuderia Ferrari and the debut of many young talents performing with varying success, most of the key seats have already been filled. However, several crucial decisions remain unresolved and could still partially reshape the face of the next season’s starting grid.
Mercedes opts for continuity
At Mercedes, the future seems largely decided. George Russell is close to renewing his contract and will continue to be paired with Andrea Kimi Antonelli, now nineteen years old, who has been confirmed despite a few inconsistencies over the first fourteen races of the 2025 championship. In Brackley, continuity remains the watchword.
Cadillac bets on experience
Other teams are taking a different approach. Cadillac, making its debut in 2026, is preparing to make a bold choice by relying on proven experience: Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez are reportedly on the verge of an official announcement, potentially before the Dutch Grand Prix. This strategy prioritizes stability over risk as the team enters a season full of unknowns and challenges.
The Alpine puzzle and the Franco Colapinto case
The hottest topic remains Alpine. The Enstone-based team, which began the season with Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan, reshuffled its lineup in the spring, bringing in Franco Colapinto on loan from Williams. The Argentine driver replaced Jack Doohan after only six challenging weekends but failed to make a mark: eight Grand Prix without scoring a single point left him as the only driver still scoreless on the grid.
According to the Swiss daily Blick, Franco Colapinto’s Formula 1 adventure is expected to end after the 2025 season. Despite a sponsorship portfolio valued at around £14.7 million, the 22-year-old has not convinced Alpine’s management, who now see his departure as inevitable following the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Pierre Gasly, by contrast, will remain at the core of Alpine’s project, while the team continues to evaluate options for the second seat. Several candidates are under consideration, but none are without risk. Jack Doohan is still working behind the scenes, although a return appears unlikely. Paul Aron could make a late-season debut, but putting an inexperienced rookie in the car would be another gamble for Alpine, a risk they may hesitate to take.
A market still in motion
Alpine’s future decisions are not limited to Franco Colapinto. The team could represent a last real opportunity for several drivers currently without a seat. Mick Schumacher and Zhou Guanyu remain on the sidelines, as do some young drivers under Red Bull contracts who could lose their opportunities if Arvid Lindblad is promoted.
With Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez joining Cadillac, available seats in Formula 1 have become even scarcer. Officially, only four seats remain open for 2026, barring any dramatic contractual upheavals similar to what happened with Perez last year. Meanwhile, the paddock continues to speculate: who will join Pierre Gasly as the new Formula 1 era begins? The one (almost) certain outcome is that Franco Colapinto will not be part of it.
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