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2026 is just on the horizon and is bringing with it a fresh slate for Formula 1. New regs. New teams. New drivers. A brand new era is about to begin.
As the FanAmp team gets ready to celebrate the New Year, here are some of the things we’re most looking forward to in F1 for 2026.
Teams and drivers we think will thrive in 2026
“I’m really excited to continue following Williams Racing and see how they develop into the new era as a team,” says Claudio Ovejero, our Marketing and Community Engagement guru. “2025 was exciting to watch–obviously not without a few lows of course–but I think they will be a very strong contender next year to potentially secure top four in the constructors with a Mercedes engine, and Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon and James Vowles leading them.”
There are big hopes for Williams all around, as Logan Fung, Lead of Growth and Community Engagement, fully agrees, saying, “I'm just excited for hopefully some more Carlos podiums and maybe a Carlos win, but I think that it's going to be a big shake up and I can see Williams being a top team this year.”
While he’s always been an outspoken supporter of James Vowles since his move from Mercedes to run the Grove-based team, Greg Kallman, FanAmp’s founder, is most ready for the Racing Bulls to deliver the entertainment value this coming year. “After seeing how impressive Isack Hadjar’s rookie season was in their car, I’m ready for Arvid Lindblad to take the wheel and for Liam Lawson to show us what he’s got with another season under his belt.”
What Cadillac and Audi could bring to F1
“I'm really excited for Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez to come in with Cadillac,” says Logan. Indeed, 2026 is bringing with it some major changes to the names and faces we’ll be seeing on the grid, including that of American automotive powerhouse Cadillac.
“I think it's a very exciting new team,” Logan adds. “They're bringing in a ton of fresh energy, and they have two returning drivers, both veterans who have obviously been race winners and driven for top teams. It'll be fun to see them competing together as teammates, but also just against the rest of the grid again.”
But Cadillac is not the only new team we will be seeing.
“Audi is making its F1 debut,” says our resident journalist, Misha Husic. “They’ve had a lot of success in other motorsports, they dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans from the early 2000s to the mid 2010s, their history in rally racing has been really influential. I’m really looking forward to seeing what they can do in F1 too, especially because they’re debuting with their own powerunit.”
Seeing the new regulations in action
“We’re saying goodbye to the ground effect era,” says Misha. “I think a lot of fans and teams alike are excited about that.
“Personally, I want to see how overtaking will look this year, with the new regulations coming in. Also how drivers are going to be using the new overtake mode, whether it will be all at once or in bursts along straights. Racing is going to look quite different this year, and I hope it makes the championship an exciting one.”
“My fingers are crossed that the increased emphasis on driver control translates to the broadcast. Energy levels have been shown in the past, but leaning into nuanced driver decisionmaking—overtake mode, straight and corner wing controls—will make even midfield and backmarker battles interesting,” said Greg.
The creative side of F1 in 2026: liveries, helmets, and more
And while the inside of F1 cars is getting a major overhaul, that isn’t where the changes stop.
“I literally am on the edge of my seat for the car reveals. I think it’s one of the most exciting parts of the year,” says Claudia. “I’m so curious to see what the new cars will look like, especially now that there will be a requirement for more surface area to be covered with paint. I want to see some fun liveries!
“Lando Norris always has the best one-off helmets,” Logan adds, “so I'm excited for a couple more of those. And I'm excited for some more Red Bull special liveries. I think that they always do a good job too.”
Yet the fun doesn’t have to stop at the visuals of F1. Last year, we saw some truly creative sponsorship activities involving both driver and fan engagement, and our team is excited to see how they can be topped next year.
“I’m hoping to see some more fun sponsor activities that involve the drivers,” says Claudia, “the LEGO car race was such a highlight this last season I'd love to see something similar and interactive happen!”
Greg’s 2026 wishlist: “LEGO bumper cars!”
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