Formula 1 drivers welcome “exciting” addition of 11th team in 2026 · RaceFans

Formula 1 drivers welcomed the news an 11th team is set to join the grid in 2026.

Cadillac and Formula One Management have reached an agreement in principle for the team to join the world championship. FOM has dropped its long-standing objection to expanding the grid, a view shared by most team bosses.

F1 last had a 22-car grid in 2016, before drivers such as Pierre Gasly made their debuts. “It’s exciting,” said the Alpine driver.

“It’s going to be my first time to race with 22 cars in F1. More rivals, probably more action, more racing. So [it’s] exciting times.”

Charles Leclerc made his debut in an F1 practice session with Haas when they joined the grid as the 11th team in 2016. He says the larger grid will benefit F1 by offering more chances for upcoming drivers to find a seat.

“It’s the first time in my career that I’ll be 22 on the grid in F1, and that’s exciting,” he said. “I also think that there are lots of young drivers waiting for a place in Formula 1, in order to get there, and that will obviously give more opportunities to very talented young drivers that are dreaming to get into Formula 1.”

Sauber team mates Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, who will lose their F1 seats at the end of the year, are already eyeing the two Cadillac seats as potential destinations.

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“I’m definitely welcoming a new team into Formula 1,” said Bottas. “It’s a great brand, I think it’s going to be great for F1. And it also means there’s two more seats for ’26, which is good.”

Cadillac is taking over the entry which was launched by Andretti at the beginning of last year. They have already hired several notable names for their technical division including Pat Symonds, Rob White and Nick Chester, all of which previously worked for the team now known as Alpine.

“They have a couple of people that they were in the Renault [now Alpine] days,” said Fernando Alonso, “and for sure they will have a huge contribution right now at the very early part of the project, with a lot of experience in Formula 1 and in the sport.

“So I wish the best of luck. A new team is never an easy task, but I think they will be well prepared and they have the right people.”