The year 2026 marks a significant period for Formula 1 with the introduction of entirely new regulations, and certain drivers will be under more pressure than others to adapt to these changes.
This group of five drivers, driven by various factors such as a subpar performance in 2025, a difficult recent history, or transitioning to a new team, are all aiming for a standout 2026 season to demonstrate their capabilities.
These five individuals are listed below.
Oscar Piastri
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
Envisioning August 31, 2025: Oscar Piastri has just broadened his lead in the championship to 34 points, securing victory at the Dutch Grand Prix, while his teammate and competitor for the title, Lando Norris, faced a mechanical retirement. Piastri undeniably held all the momentum, seemingly poised to claim the world championship in just his third Formula 1 season.
However, the situation dramatically deteriorated. Controversial team directives at Monza, a disastrous weekend in Baku, and difficulties on the low-adhesion tracks in Mexico and Singapore led to the Australian squandering his lead, ultimately ceding the championship to Norris. Piastri couldn’t even secure runner-up, narrowly losing out to Max Verstappen at the finish.
Such a devastating championship loss could understandably take a mental toll, particularly for a driver still only 24 years old – and there’s no guarantee a similar opportunity will arise again.
This is especially pertinent given the 2026 cars are predicted to be less stable and offer reduced grip, characteristics that, theoretically, don’t align with Piastri’s driving preferences. His performance in Mexico last year served as a clear illustration, with his team principal Andrea Stella remarking then that “Oscar excels more on high-grip surfaces, where his remarkable talent can truly shine.”
Consequently, this is an aspect he must rapidly enhance, as a sluggish start to the season would only compound his challenges and foster uncertainty. While Piastri has demonstrated a capacity for year-on-year improvement, the significant boost in confidence and composure that Norris gained from his title victory should also be considered, positioning him strongly for the upcoming challenges.
Therefore, Piastri must recover decisively and prove his world champion credentials with a robust 2026 campaign; otherwise, the performance disparity with his teammate could widen. No driver aspires to be considered a subordinate.
Esteban Ocon
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
While Piastri’s F1 career is not in jeopardy for 2026, Esteban Ocon, in contrast, might well be battling for his future following a profoundly unsatisfactory season with Haas. The 29-year-old concluded the championship in 15th position, trailing his rookie teammate, Oliver Bearman, by three points, with Bearman also demonstrating superior qualifying pace.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu summarized Ocon’s 2025 performance by stating, “Solely considering the competitive outcome, without delving into specifics, it’s undeniable that no one is content with Esteban’s racing results last year. He was paired with a rookie – an impressive one, certainly – but he himself possesses a decade of F1 experience, is a race victor, and a podium finisher. Hence, our expectations were higher.”
While Komatsu further elaborated that the team shared some responsibility for not providing Ocon with a comfortable car, particularly regarding braking, the preceding statement alone strongly suggests that the Frenchman needs to deliver a compelling performance to re-establish himself.
This urgency is amplified by the fact that he is in the concluding year of his present contract. It’s improbable that Haas would extend his deal if their seasoned veteran were again surpassed by a less experienced teammate, a scenario not entirely implausible given Bearman’s seemingly stronger pace during testing.
Furthermore, pre-season indications pointed to the American team being a strong contender at the head of the midfield in 2026, making it an attractive prospect for 2027. Therefore, if Ocon fails to rebound during the upcoming season, his position within the team, or even his overall presence in the championship, will be severely imperiled.
Nevertheless, his career longevity since 2016 is not coincidental, and he has frequently risen to the occasion when required – so it’s unlikely Ocon will yield without significant resistance.
Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Kym Illman / Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, too, is a competitor resolute in his determination to battle fiercely. The seven-time world champion has endured a remarkably challenging period over the past few years, grappling with the ground-effect regulations and consistently appearing disheartened during media appearances.
This challenging period persisted even after his highly anticipated transfer to Ferrari, where his inaugural year with the Scuderia proved underwhelming, culminating in a sixth-place championship finish, no Grand Prix victories, and an 86-point deficit to his teammate, Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton frequently attributed past struggles to the SF-25 being developed without his influence, suggesting it lacked his ‘DNA,’ and he consistently viewed the forthcoming regulation change as a beacon of hope. With these new rules now in effect, the 41-year-old has no room for excuses, particularly after stating in pre-season that the SF-26, with its broader setup flexibility and enhanced cornering, now complements his driving approach.
“In the previous year, we were committed to a vehicle that, fundamentally, I took over,” he commented. “This particular car, however, I’ve actively participated in refining on the simulator for the past eight to ten months, incorporating some of my driving ‘DNA’ into its design. Consequently, I feel a stronger affinity with this one.”
Hamilton further asserted that, from a psychological standpoint, he feels more robust than he has in a considerable time, suggesting all elements are in place for him to excel this year and demonstrate he is still at the peak of his abilities. Yet, Formula 1 has frequently witnessed such declarations of renewed hope from Hamilton in recent seasons, only for them not to materialize.
This time, however, success is imperative; otherwise, a parting of ways at the conclusion of 2026 might be the most beneficial outcome for everyone involved.
Liam Lawson
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Photo by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
Should Hamilton decide to conclude his career in 2026, his esteemed reputation would remain entirely unblemished, having accumulated seven world championships and competed for two decades. However, Liam Lawson is a driver who has not yet had the privilege of such an extensive career.
The 24-year-old commenced his F1 journey in 2023, and it was only in 2025 that he undertook his inaugural full season… yet, it’s reasonable to suggest his prospects are already uncertain. This stems from Lawson’s two-year tenure witnessing both an elevation to and subsequent relegation from Red Bull, with precedents indicating that a driver’s return to the sister team typically precludes a second opportunity with the senior squad.
Consequently, this situation compels demoted drivers to seek opportunities elsewhere – similar to Pierre Gasly’s move to Alpine – and Lawson is in the same predicament. What trajectory will his career take if he remains solely with Racing Bulls? Even if Isack Hadjar performs poorly at Red Bull and faces demotion, the likelihood of Arvid Lindblad being promoted is higher, as he is considered the next emerging talent.
Therefore, Lawson faces a crucial year, though questions persist about his ultimate capabilities, particularly concerning his qualifying speed, which remains a significant weakness. For instance, last year he was outqualified by Hadjar 21-6 in direct comparisons, with that margin being 16-6 excluding sprint races. Perhaps he can extract an additional tenth or two with the new vehicle design, but irrespective, he must do so; otherwise, Lawson’s career will reach a critical juncture.
Isack Hadjar
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
It has essentially become a yearly occurrence: a junior driver joins Red Bull, expresses supreme confidence in their ability to make a difference and fulfill the role of the team’s vital second driver… only to endure a string of defeats as Verstappen’s teammate, resulting in abject failure.
Enter Hadjar. The initial part of that observation holds true, as the 21-year-old exuded self-assurance during pre-season, declaring the RB22 capable of delivering his maiden victory and asserting that the regulatory shift provided an opportune moment to join Red Bull. He even sardonically dismissed inquiries about his crash during the Barcelona shakedown, an incident that drew unavoidable parallels to Pierre Gasly’s similar mishap during the Austrian team’s 2019 testing.
“Upon my crash, my immediate thought was of Pierre,” Hadjar stated impassively. “So I checked Twitter, read all the comments, and concluded, ‘I’m ruined for the entire season.’ That’s genuinely how I processed it.”
While current circumstances may appear lighthearted, this will quickly change if he endures a subpar commencement to the season, demanding a specific fortitude to withstand psychological impact. This pattern has unfolded previously, with nearly all of Verstappen’s teammates eventually appearing dispirited, making mental toughness paramount for Hadjar. He must be the one to finally exorcise the lingering challenges associated with Red Bull’s second driver position.
For if he doesn’t succeed, who will? Hadjar’s predecessors, at minimum, could point to the car being designed primarily around the four-time world champion. However, team principal Laurent Mekies consistently affirmed last year that a vehicle more accommodating to both drivers would be constructed, thereby making this an ideal moment for the Frenchman to join.
To preempt any increasing skepticism, he requires a robust start to the season. This doesn’t strictly mean competing directly with Verstappen, but rather demonstrating the ability to consistently score points against rival teams. Recall, for example, Yuki Tsunoda’s lamentable attempt to defend against Norris during the 2025 title showdown in Abu Dhabi.
