The youngest, tallest and lightest riders in 2026.
In the upcoming season the tallest drivers will race for Williams, Haas F1 and Mercedes; the heaviest (according to official information) will be Nico Hulkenberg and Oliver Berman; the oldest will be Fernando Alonso, and the youngest will be the sole rookie of the season, Arvid Lindblad.
Drivers' data at the beginning of the 2026 season
Driver
Team
Age
Weight
Height
F. Alonso
Aston Martin
44
68
171
L. Hamilton
Ferrari
41
73
174
N. Hulkenberg
Audi
38
77
184
V. Bottas
Cadillac
36
70
173
S. Perez
Cadillac
36
65
173
K. Sainz
Williams
31
64
178
P. Gasly
Alpine
30
70
177
A. Albon
Williams
29
74
186
E. Ocon
Haas F1
29
66
186
M. Verstappen
Red Bull
28
72
181
D. Russell
Mercedes
28
70
185
C.
In the upcoming season the tallest drivers will race for Williams, Haas F1 and Mercedes; the heaviest (according to official information) will be Nico Hulkenberg and Oliver Berman; the oldest will be Fernando Alonso, and the youngest will be the sole rookie of the season, Arvid Lindblad.
Drivers' data at the beginning of the 2026 season
Driver
Team
Age
Weight
Height
F. Alonso
Aston Martin
44
68
171
L. Hamilton
Ferrari
41
73
174
N. Hulkenberg
Audi
38
77
184
V. Bottas
Cadillac
36
70
173
S. Perez
Cadillac
36
65
173
K. Sainz
Williams
31
64
178
P. Gasly
Alpine
30
70
177
A. Albon
Williams
29
74
186
E. Ocon
Haas F1
29
66
186
M. Verstappen
Red Bull
28
72
181
D. Russell
Mercedes
28
70
185
C.
Happy New Year, friends! Wishing you all the best and lots of positivity in the New Year and the new season!
Good health, prosperity, happiness, love and success to you and your loved ones! May all your wishes come true!
Exciting races, thrilling and fair battles — and victories for your idols!
With love and respect, the entire F1News team!
Good health, prosperity, happiness, love and success to you and your loved ones! May all your wishes come true!
Exciting races, thrilling and fair battles — and victories for your idols!
With love and respect, the entire F1News team!
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc dreams of one day competing at Le Mans — in the same crew as his brother...
Charles Leclerc: “The 24 Hours of Le Mans? I’ve always dreamed about it. Racing in that event alongside my brother Arthur and Antonio Fuoco would be incredible. I’m not hiding that I want to do it. I really like the idea of taking part in this legendary race.
I haven’t thought about the Triple Crown (winning Monaco, Le Mans and Indianapolis). I don’t yet know whether I’ll ever want to try myself in the Indianapolis 500, but I definitely want to race at Le Mans. I hope it happens soon.”
Charles Leclerc: “The 24 Hours of Le Mans? I’ve always dreamed about it. Racing in that event alongside my brother Arthur and Antonio Fuoco would be incredible. I’m not hiding that I want to do it. I really like the idea of taking part in this legendary race.
I haven’t thought about the Triple Crown (winning Monaco, Le Mans and Indianapolis). I don’t yet know whether I’ll ever want to try myself in the Indianapolis 500, but I definitely want to race at Le Mans. I hope it happens soon.”
© F1News.Ru Editorial Board 1997–2026. Mass media registration certificate El. No. FS77-29173. Registered with the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media.
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Little Hurricane. Chapter 11
This is a work of fiction; any resemblance to real events is purely coincidental. A continuation of "The Little Hurricane" by Nikita Savelyev for the readers of F1News.ru...
Chapter 11. The High Kerb
From the pre-race press conference of world champion Ramon Coraso:
– Ramon, five rounds have passed and you’re already ten points ahead of your nearest rival — Lars Lindegard? An impressive result, isn’t it?
– I could use your optimism, mate. Did you watch the last race? Lars started first in the new car and was comfortably leading. Had he made it to the finish, he could have won.
– Lars lasted only fifteen laps out of seventy-five, it’s hard to draw conclusions from such a short stint.
– Thanks to his car’s designer that it fell apart so quickly.
– But Darren Jenkins finished second, right in front of you. Did you notice his rear wing? Picked up anything useful for your engineers?
– Apparently it works perfectly; I used to always outspeed Darren, but this time he pulled well on the straights.
– Will you have trouble with Darren and Lars in Belgium?
– Where would we be without them? But their new car is very difficult to drive — that means mistakes will come. And I’ll be nearby. Darren’s easier to handle, while Lars is, of course, a tough nut to crack.
– What about Nicola Grossi? After Lars retired he was the fastest and deservedly won.
– I’m happy for him — he led so many times this year only for something to go wrong. In Holland they found the right setup — their car wasn’t devouring its tires like usual.
– Your rivals are piling up, aren’t they?
– The fight is tight, the leaders change every race. But I like that. What would I do if one of the guys had a fast car and was churning out win after win? In these conditions the main thing is to score points consistently and have a reliable car. So far my car and I are coping.
– How do you like this circuit? Last year luck wasn’t on your side here, was it?
– Back to that again? Come on. Which one of us hasn’t retired because of someone else’s stupidity in the first corner?
– Since we’re on the subject of Valérie Demar! How do you assess the only woman’s performances?
– As far as I remember, she didn’t start in Spain or Holland. Right? Let her start first. If she can, of course.
– Do you think Valérie will finally make it through qualifying? The track isn’t considered difficult for drivers.
– True. It forgives mistakes — have you seen the runoff areas here? A whole airfield. Who would have thought a circuit could be so safe?! As for how Valérie will handle it — ask her.
A sharp turn — the car slides onto the verge, and there’s a high kerb. The cars are very light compared to road cars, but the speeds are huge, and only the wings provide downforce. When that suddenly disappears, the car turns into an uncontrollable airplane, and the driver becomes a passenger. Nothing depends on you — a disgusting feeling! Your stomach drops somewhere into the void. The car lifts almost vertically at a slight angle. The rear wheels are up — the nose barely touches the ground. If it flips — it’s game over. A split second of sickening terror. And… the car comes down with a crash and a grind, heavily landing on all four wheels. It feels as if your insides were mixed in a blender. The helmet bangs on the wheel. Painful and humiliating.
No matter what the pathetic scribblers think, she is a professional racer. A second to gather herself. The engine didn’t cut out. The wheels are still there. The wings aren’t broken. The asphalt is within reach. Foot on the pedal, and Valérie is back on the track.
In the pits those present reacted to her airborne episode with extreme melancholy. She’s alive, and that’s that. Only Monsieur Trélier, for form’s sake, asked if she’d damaged anything. Girard rushed to examine the car. Bernard pulled a sour face — he could already picture the repairs he’d have to do.
Surprisingly, everything was fine. Valérie was born with luck: she saved herself and the car.
This is a work of fiction; any resemblance to real events is purely coincidental. A continuation of "The Little Hurricane" by Nikita Savelyev for the readers of F1News.ru...
Chapter 11. The High Kerb
From the pre-race press conference of world champion Ramon Coraso:
– Ramon, five rounds have passed and you’re already ten points ahead of your nearest rival — Lars Lindegard? An impressive result, isn’t it?
– I could use your optimism, mate. Did you watch the last race? Lars started first in the new car and was comfortably leading. Had he made it to the finish, he could have won.
– Lars lasted only fifteen laps out of seventy-five, it’s hard to draw conclusions from such a short stint.
– Thanks to his car’s designer that it fell apart so quickly.
– But Darren Jenkins finished second, right in front of you. Did you notice his rear wing? Picked up anything useful for your engineers?
– Apparently it works perfectly; I used to always outspeed Darren, but this time he pulled well on the straights.
– Will you have trouble with Darren and Lars in Belgium?
– Where would we be without them? But their new car is very difficult to drive — that means mistakes will come. And I’ll be nearby. Darren’s easier to handle, while Lars is, of course, a tough nut to crack.
– What about Nicola Grossi? After Lars retired he was the fastest and deservedly won.
– I’m happy for him — he led so many times this year only for something to go wrong. In Holland they found the right setup — their car wasn’t devouring its tires like usual.
– Your rivals are piling up, aren’t they?
– The fight is tight, the leaders change every race. But I like that. What would I do if one of the guys had a fast car and was churning out win after win? In these conditions the main thing is to score points consistently and have a reliable car. So far my car and I are coping.
– How do you like this circuit? Last year luck wasn’t on your side here, was it?
– Back to that again? Come on. Which one of us hasn’t retired because of someone else’s stupidity in the first corner?
– Since we’re on the subject of Valérie Demar! How do you assess the only woman’s performances?
– As far as I remember, she didn’t start in Spain or Holland. Right? Let her start first. If she can, of course.
– Do you think Valérie will finally make it through qualifying? The track isn’t considered difficult for drivers.
– True. It forgives mistakes — have you seen the runoff areas here? A whole airfield. Who would have thought a circuit could be so safe?! As for how Valérie will handle it — ask her.
A sharp turn — the car slides onto the verge, and there’s a high kerb. The cars are very light compared to road cars, but the speeds are huge, and only the wings provide downforce. When that suddenly disappears, the car turns into an uncontrollable airplane, and the driver becomes a passenger. Nothing depends on you — a disgusting feeling! Your stomach drops somewhere into the void. The car lifts almost vertically at a slight angle. The rear wheels are up — the nose barely touches the ground. If it flips — it’s game over. A split second of sickening terror. And… the car comes down with a crash and a grind, heavily landing on all four wheels. It feels as if your insides were mixed in a blender. The helmet bangs on the wheel. Painful and humiliating.
No matter what the pathetic scribblers think, she is a professional racer. A second to gather herself. The engine didn’t cut out. The wheels are still there. The wings aren’t broken. The asphalt is within reach. Foot on the pedal, and Valérie is back on the track.
In the pits those present reacted to her airborne episode with extreme melancholy. She’s alive, and that’s that. Only Monsieur Trélier, for form’s sake, asked if she’d damaged anything. Girard rushed to examine the car. Bernard pulled a sour face — he could already picture the repairs he’d have to do.
Surprisingly, everything was fine. Valérie was born with luck: she saved herself and the car.
Nonf1
Little Hurricane. Chapter 11
Chapter 11. The High Barrier...
On Viaplay, Max Verstappen spoke about the reasons and consequences of Christian Horner's dismissal...
Max Verstappen: "At that time the team's affairs weren't going well, there was dissatisfaction with the results — and the shareholders wanted change — they were unhappy with how things were, and what happened, happened.
It's always difficult to part with someone you've worked with for a long time. I worked very well with Christian; together we achieved a lot, winning four titles since 2021. That's impossible to forget. Christian went through fire and water for me, he did everything he could. We're still in touch. During the season we exchanged messages at the end of the day, and during the break we call each other every week, discussing not only races.
At the end of the season the team was working excellently again, our confidence returned. People were smiling, getting along great — something we had been missing at one point; it seemed that the old Red Bull was gone, but now we feel united again."
Max Verstappen: "At that time the team's affairs weren't going well, there was dissatisfaction with the results — and the shareholders wanted change — they were unhappy with how things were, and what happened, happened.
It's always difficult to part with someone you've worked with for a long time. I worked very well with Christian; together we achieved a lot, winning four titles since 2021. That's impossible to forget. Christian went through fire and water for me, he did everything he could. We're still in touch. During the season we exchanged messages at the end of the day, and during the break we call each other every week, discussing not only races.
At the end of the season the team was working excellently again, our confidence returned. People were smiling, getting along great — something we had been missing at one point; it seemed that the old Red Bull was gone, but now we feel united again."
Piastri: My self-confidence will stay with me forever.
Oscar Piastri understands perfectly that in the new season he'll have work to do to improve his professional craft, but he knows for sure that although he couldn't realize his dream in 2025, it was a year in which he learned a great deal.
"Many races went well, and there are many I look back on very fondly," the McLaren driver told Australian broadcaster 7Sport. "The confidence, the belief in my own abilities that I gained last year — that's something that will stay with me forever.
"Of course, there are things I need to keep working on, and there were moments where I would probably have acted differently, and I'm sure the team feels the same. But all of this will make me stronger in the future, and I hope we have many more successful years ahead.
Oscar Piastri understands perfectly that in the new season he'll have work to do to improve his professional craft, but he knows for sure that although he couldn't realize his dream in 2025, it was a year in which he learned a great deal.
"Many races went well, and there are many I look back on very fondly," the McLaren driver told Australian broadcaster 7Sport. "The confidence, the belief in my own abilities that I gained last year — that's something that will stay with me forever.
"Of course, there are things I need to keep working on, and there were moments where I would probably have acted differently, and I'm sure the team feels the same. But all of this will make me stronger in the future, and I hope we have many more successful years ahead.
James Vaulz fondly remembers 2025.
James Vowles, wishing everyone a happy 2026, noted that he happily reminisces about the past year while looking through photographs that captured its brightest moments, since 2025 became a very important milestone in the life of the Williams team principal.
James Vowles: "Looking at the photos, I happily immerse myself in memories. There was the London Formula 1 launch at the O2 arena, the first round of the season in Australia where Alex Albon finished fifth, the flight in an F-18 fighter jet (a dream come true!), as well as Carlos Sainz’s first podium with Williams and how we celebrated it together with the whole team.
In addition, I was fortunate to drive the Williams FW14B and FW08 and to compete in a 12-hour GT3 race in Abu Dhabi. And in July I became a father for the second time, delighted by the birth of my son.
James Vowles, wishing everyone a happy 2026, noted that he happily reminisces about the past year while looking through photographs that captured its brightest moments, since 2025 became a very important milestone in the life of the Williams team principal.
James Vowles: "Looking at the photos, I happily immerse myself in memories. There was the London Formula 1 launch at the O2 arena, the first round of the season in Australia where Alex Albon finished fifth, the flight in an F-18 fighter jet (a dream come true!), as well as Carlos Sainz’s first podium with Williams and how we celebrated it together with the whole team.
In addition, I was fortunate to drive the Williams FW14B and FW08 and to compete in a 12-hour GT3 race in Abu Dhabi. And in July I became a father for the second time, delighted by the birth of my son.
The FIA is ready to intervene in the overtaking situation.
The FIA will be ready to intervene if it turns out that the overtaking situation in Formula 1 in 2026 is excessively complicated and does not meet the championship organisers’ expectations. The same will happen if there are too many overtakes.
A new technical regulation has come into force for the new season, there are many changes and they are very far‑reaching, so it is difficult to predict how all this will affect the nature of the on-track battles. On the one hand, the FIA and Formula 1 hope that the combination of active aerodynamics and a special overtaking mode, when the power unit delivers maximum power for a short time, should have an effect; on the other hand, we will only see the whole truth once the real races begin.
The FIA will be ready to intervene if it turns out that the overtaking situation in Formula 1 in 2026 is excessively complicated and does not meet the championship organisers’ expectations. The same will happen if there are too many overtakes.
A new technical regulation has come into force for the new season, there are many changes and they are very far‑reaching, so it is difficult to predict how all this will affect the nature of the on-track battles. On the one hand, the FIA and Formula 1 hope that the combination of active aerodynamics and a special overtaking mode, when the power unit delivers maximum power for a short time, should have an effect; on the other hand, we will only see the whole truth once the real races begin.
© F1News.Ru Editorial Board 1997–2026. Mass media registration certificate El. No. FS77-29173. Registered with the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media.
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© F1News.Ru Editorial Board 1997–2026. Mass media registration certificate El. No. FS77-29173. Registered with the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media.
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The information resource (website) uses recommendation technologies (information technologies for providing information based on the collection, systematization and analysis of data relating to the preferences of Internet users located in the territory of the Russian Federation).
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The information resource (website) uses recommendation technologies (information technologies for providing information based on the collection, systematization and analysis of data relating to the preferences of Internet users located in the territory of the Russian Federation).
Bayer has no doubts about Lindblad's racing talents.
Arvid Lindblad, the 18-year-old championship debutant, is another graduate of Red Bull’s junior programme, and in 2026 both teams of the Austrian company will once again be fully staffed with such drivers.
The Briton will become Liam Lawson’s new teammate, and Peter Bayer, executive director of Racing Bulls, has no doubt about his racing talents, considering him no less promising than Isaac Hadjar, who this year moved to Red Bull Racing.
“He’s as much an uncut diamond as Isaac,” Bayer said in an interview with RacingNews365. “We can see that he has the same natural gift for speed, a similar psychological makeup, an analytical approach to the job, and a desire to understand everything.
In Qatar during the race he sat next to me and, to be honest, I was genuinely impressed by how he managed to anticipate developments on the track.
Arvid Lindblad, the 18-year-old championship debutant, is another graduate of Red Bull’s junior programme, and in 2026 both teams of the Austrian company will once again be fully staffed with such drivers.
The Briton will become Liam Lawson’s new teammate, and Peter Bayer, executive director of Racing Bulls, has no doubt about his racing talents, considering him no less promising than Isaac Hadjar, who this year moved to Red Bull Racing.
“He’s as much an uncut diamond as Isaac,” Bayer said in an interview with RacingNews365. “We can see that he has the same natural gift for speed, a similar psychological makeup, an analytical approach to the job, and a desire to understand everything.
In Qatar during the race he sat next to me and, to be honest, I was genuinely impressed by how he managed to anticipate developments on the track.
Kimi Räikkönen is vacationing with his family in his homeland.
The Räikkönen family spends their winter holidays in Finland almost every year, and this season was no exception. Kimi, with his wife and children, went to a ski resort in Tahko, not far from the town of Kuopio.
The fact is that Räikkönen is one of the shareholders of the company that owns the local hotel Panorama Lanscape. According to the Finnish press, in 2023 he invested €150,000 in the enterprise, a relatively small sum amounting to roughly a 10% stake, and the same amount was invested by another famous driver, Tommi Mäkinen, a four-time world rally champion.
Temperatures in these parts in early January approach −20°C, and it’s even colder at night, but that doesn’t stop 10-year-old Robin Räikkönen, who is enjoying his first successes in karting, from tearing around the snowy tracks, including on a snowmobile.
The Räikkönen family spends their winter holidays in Finland almost every year, and this season was no exception. Kimi, with his wife and children, went to a ski resort in Tahko, not far from the town of Kuopio.
The fact is that Räikkönen is one of the shareholders of the company that owns the local hotel Panorama Lanscape. According to the Finnish press, in 2023 he invested €150,000 in the enterprise, a relatively small sum amounting to roughly a 10% stake, and the same amount was invested by another famous driver, Tommi Mäkinen, a four-time world rally champion.
Temperatures in these parts in early January approach −20°C, and it’s even colder at night, but that doesn’t stop 10-year-old Robin Räikkönen, who is enjoying his first successes in karting, from tearing around the snowy tracks, including on a snowmobile.
Ferrari thanked Guanyu Zhou for his cooperation.
Ferrari has announced it is ending its collaboration with Guanyu Zhou, who served as a reserve driver for the Italian team, a role he shared with Antonio Giovinazzi. The Chinese driver worked at the Scuderia in that capacity last year, and before that spent three seasons at Sauber.
The team's press office thanked Zhou for his cooperation via social media: "We are grateful to Guanyu for his dedication and contribution to the collective effort as a reserve driver. We wish him all the best in the future."
At the same time, American outlets have already suggested that the Cadillac F1 team may soon announce that Zhou will become its reserve and test driver.
The reason for this was a mysterious photo posted on the new team's social media pages: it shows an extreme close-up of a cat's eye, in which something is reflected.
Ferrari has announced it is ending its collaboration with Guanyu Zhou, who served as a reserve driver for the Italian team, a role he shared with Antonio Giovinazzi. The Chinese driver worked at the Scuderia in that capacity last year, and before that spent three seasons at Sauber.
The team's press office thanked Zhou for his cooperation via social media: "We are grateful to Guanyu for his dedication and contribution to the collective effort as a reserve driver. We wish him all the best in the future."
At the same time, American outlets have already suggested that the Cadillac F1 team may soon announce that Zhou will become its reserve and test driver.
The reason for this was a mysterious photo posted on the new team's social media pages: it shows an extreme close-up of a cat's eye, in which something is reflected.