All reserve drivers from each team for the 2026 season

For several weeks now, the names of the official drivers who will take part in the next championship in a specific team have been known. There was therefore not the slightest surprise in a period characterized by the presentation of the first single-seaters and in anticipation of a very interesting season in terms of technical regulations. Despite this, interesting official press releases have arrived from teams such as Williams and McLaren, which have announced the promotion of talents such as Luke Browning or Leonardo Fornaroli, the outgoing Formula 2 champion and third driver for McLaren, to the role of reserve drivers. For each team, the presence of a reserve driver is essential, available to replace one of the two official drivers if the latter is not able to compete. While waiting for the championship, it is therefore necessary to provide a summary of all the profiles chosen by the teams in sight for 2026. We start with the reigning world champions McLaren, who in addition to the aforementioned Fornaroli makes use of the Mexican ‘Pato’ O’Ward, who will also be present in IndyCar with McLaren. The Woking company is the only one, together with Ferrari, to be able to bet on two drivers. The Maranello team will in fact be able to count on another Italian in Antonio Giovinazzi (also involved in the WEC with the Red), and most likely on Oliver Bearman, even if the Briton will participate in the F1 world championship as an official Haas driver. Thanks to Valtteri Bottas’ move to Cadillac, Mercedes recalled Danish Frederick Vesti to the team, while Red Bull demoted Yuki Tsunoda to third driver after the arrival of Isack Hadjar in his place. More recently, however, Williams made Luke Browning official, who will participate at the same time in the Japanese Super Formula championship. While Ayumu Iwasa will remain in Racing Bulls, Aston Martin will welcome Jak Crawford, arriving from Formula 2. Ryo Hirakawa and Paul Aron are confirmed, respectively in Haas and Alpine, while Guanyu Zhou will begin the new chapter in Cadillac after his experience as a reserve driver in Ferrari, which ended in recent weeks. The only team that has not yet announced its third driver for 2026, however, remains Audi. Reserve drivers for each team TEAMPILOTIMcLarenPatricio O’Ward – Leonardo FornaroliMercedesFrederick VestiRed BullYuki TsunodaFerrariAntonio Giovinazzi – Oliver BearmanWilliamsLuke BrowningRacing BullsAyumu IwasaAston MartinJak CrawfordHaasRyo HirakawaAudi?AlpinePaul AronCadillacGuanyu Zhou