Cadillac’s arrival in 2026 expands a grid built on decades of history, mergers and rebirths. From Ferrari’s uninterrupted presence since 1950 to the many identities behind Mercedes and Alpine, here’s how each of the 11 current F1 teams came to be.
McLaren
Founded by New Zealander Bruce McLaren in 1963, McLaren entered F1 in 1966 with its founder driving. The team’s first win came at the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix. Despite the tragedy of Bruce McLaren’s death in 1970, the squad endured and became one of F1’s most successful constructors, amassing more than 200 wins and producing 13 Drivers’ and 10 Constructors’ titles with icons such as Niki Lauda, Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna.
Mercedes
Mercedes raced in the early 1950s with Juan Manuel Fangio before withdrawing for many years. The modern Mercedes team, however, traces its operational lineage to Tyrrell (1970s) and later British American Racing and Honda-era changes. Ross Brawn bought the team and, after an astonishing 2009-2010 campaign, sold it to Mercedes, which returned the Silver Arrows name in 2010. Since then, Mercedes has been dominant, winning multiple Constructors’ titles and Drivers’ Championships with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.
Red Bull
Red Bull Racing’s roots lie with Stewart Grand Prix, founded by Jackie Stewart in 1997 as a Ford works team. Ford later became Jaguar Racing, and when Ford left F1 in 2004 the team was sold to Red Bull. Rebranded as Red Bull Racing, it rose to prominence in the 2000s and has since claimed numerous Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles, driven to success by Sebastian Vettel and later Max Verstappen.
Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari is synonymous with Formula 1 and is the only team to have competed in every F1 season since 1950. Its iconic red cars and ardent fanbase reflect a long legacy that includes early stars like Alberto Ascari and modern legends like Michael Schumacher. While team success has ebbed and flowed—its last Constructors’ title came in 2008—the pursuit of victory remains central to Ferrari’s identity.
Williams
Founded by Frank Williams and Patrick Head in 1977, Williams debuted in 1978 with Alan Jones, who led the team to both Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles in 1980. The team added multiple Drivers’ Championships in the 1980s and 1990s with drivers such as Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve. Facing decline in later years, the Williams family sold the team to Dorilton Capital in 2020; the Williams name persists as the squad works to rebuild under new management.
Racing Bulls
Today’s Racing Bulls began life as Minardi (1985–2005), an Italian independent team. Acquired and rebranded by Red Bull as Toro Rosso in 2006, it served as Red Bull’s junior squad, developing talents including Sebastian Vettel, Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen. The team later became AlphaTauri in 2020 and, after further rebranding, adopted the Racing Bulls name in 2025.
Aston Martin
Aston Martin first appeared briefly in F1 in 1959. The modern Aston Martin team’s lineage starts with Eddie Jordan’s Jordan Grand Prix, founded in 1991. After spells as Midland, Spyker and Force India, the team fell into administration in 2018 and was rescued by a consortium led by Lawrence Stroll. Racing Point followed, and with Stroll’s later investment in Aston Martin the team was rebadged and returned to the Aston Martin name in 2021.
Haas
Haas entered F1 as the newest modern addition in 2016, founded by American team owner Gene Haas. The team benefited from acquiring assets from the defunct Marussia operation, including a facility in Banbury. With Guenther Steiner as Team Principal and drivers like Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen, Haas scored points early and achieved a best Constructors’ finish of fifth in 2018, before experiencing mixed results and gradual recovery.
Audi (Sauber)
Audi joins F1 in 2026 by taking over the long-standing Sauber operation, which debuted in 1993. Peter Sauber’s team initially had a sports-car background and later became BMW Sauber after a sale in 2005, scoring a race win with Robert Kubica in 2008 and strong championship finishes. Sauber’s name returned after BMW’s exit and an Alfa Romeo title partnership. Audi announced a planned works takeover of Sauber to begin in 2026, marking the German manufacturer’s F1 entry after years of behind-the-scenes preparation.
Alpine
Alpine’s history is one of many transformations. The team began as Toleman in 1981—famous for launching Ayrton Senna—before being bought and rebranded as Benetton in 1986. Benetton won Drivers’ and Constructors’ success with Michael Schumacher in the mid-1990s. Renault acquired the operation in 2002, delivering two Drivers’ titles with Fernando Alonso in 2005–2006. The team became Lotus for a period, returned to Renault, and was rebranded as Alpine in 2021 as part of a Renault Group strategy to promote its sports-car brand.
Cadillac
Cadillac is the newest entrant, approved to join F1 in March 2025 as General Motors’ factory-backed brand and making its on-track debut in 2026. The team established a base in Silverstone alongside U.S. operations and initially uses Ferrari power units while planning to develop its own engines from 2029. Cadillac’s management and many staff have existing F1 experience; the driver lineup includes Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez, both veterans of top teams.
The current F1 grid is the product of decades of evolution—founders and champions, manufacturer returns, corporate sales and rebirths. Each team carries a distinct lineage that shapes its present identity and ambitions as the sport moves into a new era.