We predict the 2026 F1 driver market

The Race F1 Podcast

The Race Media Ltd

Sports

4.6 • 942 Ratings

🗓️ 3 February 2025

⏱️ 61 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We dare to attempt to predict the 2026 Formula 1 driver market in the latest edition of The Race F1 Podcast. Jon Noble and Scott Mitchell-Malm join Edd Straw to run through the 11 teams and settle on the most likely pairings for 2026. The likelihood of curveballs like Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull, Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari move not working out and many more changing the game is addressed, as we lay out the market landscape. Last year’s podcast attempting to do this was ultimately derailed by Hamilton’s shock Ferrari deal, and even with things seemingly being more settled heading into 2026 we explain why there’s still potential for a few surprises. And as well as discussing the 10 existing teams, we also look at what Cadillac might do for its first season in F1. Want extra podcast content and to ask questions on the show? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon - we even have an F1-only tier! Head to Patreon.com/therace An edit of our London live show is available to purchase here (free for Champions tier members): https://www.patreon.com/posts/live-show-race-121105739 Follow The Race on Instagram, X and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:31.0	The Athletic
0:32.3	The Athletic. The race is on.
0:43.5	And after the triumph of last year's attempt to predict how what proved to be perhaps the
0:46.8	most volatile driver market in history, we're going to lay out how the grid could look
0:50.4	in 12 months' time and what will be the key decisions that shape it.
0:53.9	I'm Ed Sturor and joining us to gaze into the Crystal Ball,
0:56.5	are Scott Mitchell Mound and John Noble.
0:59.5	Well, Scott, we're back a year on from our last attempt to predict the driver market.
1:03.8	Still reveling in how well that went?
1:05.9	Yeah, I think. I think so.
1:07.8	Right for the wrong reasons, because I did say that Carlos Sines wouldn't
1:11.7	be a Ferrari driver in 2025. I just wish I'd known in advance that it would be Lewis Hamilton
1:16.6	stealing his seat, because that would have been a great heads up on that story. I think it's
1:21.8	a testament to how interesting the driver market ended up being for the 2025 season that we were one so wrong
1:30.3	and two that the grid for this year is as interesting as it is even though our predictions
1:36.6	didn't come true because I think we actually ended up with quite a few interesting driver lineups
	...

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