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F1 reserve drivers play a vital but often overlooked role in Formula 1. While only 22 drivers start Grands Prix each season, every team relies on reserve drivers to step in at short notice, run practice sessions and support car development behind the scenes.
In recent years, F1 reserve drivers have become increasingly important, with several called up unexpectedly and others using the role as a pathway to a full-time race seat. As teams balance experience with future talent, reserve drivers remain a key part of the modern F1 landscape.
So who are the F1 reserve drivers for every team in 2026? Below is a complete, team-by-team guide to the reserve and third drivers currently on the Formula 1 grid.
🎟️ Official 2026 F1 tickets
What is an F1 Reserve Driver?
An F1 reserve driver is a contracted driver who is eligible to replace a team’s race driver if required. Although they do not usually compete in Grands Prix, F1 reserve drivers must be ready to step in at any time.
Their responsibilities typically include simulator work, Free Practice 1 appearances, and supporting car development throughout the season. Many F1 reserve drivers also compete in other championships such as Formula 2 or Formula E, ensuring they remain race-ready. All reserve drivers must hold an FIA Super Licence.
How many F1 Reserve Drivers does each team have?
Some teams elect for just one reserve driver, while some opt for multiple, choosing to invest in young and upcoming talent and give them a taste of being part of the main team in the case that they have to step up.
So, who has each team selected for 2026?
While most teams have announced who they’ll have in reserve in case a driver from their main lineup is unable to participate, some are still to be confirmed but expected to be announced in the very near future.
Alpine
Paul Aron 🇪🇪
Paul Aron is one of Alpine’s standout junior prospects, having finished third in the 2024 FIA Formula 2 Championship after progressing through Formula 3 and the European F4 ranks. He joined Alpine’s driver programme in 2025 and has since gained valuable experience through Formula 1 free practice outings and testing duties.
Kush Maini 🇮🇳
Kush Maini is a member of the Alpine Academy and competes in Formula 2 with ART Grand Prix, where he has scored podiums and race wins. Appointed as an Alpine Test and Reserve Driver in 2025, he supports the team through simulator and testing work while also acting as a Formula E reserve driver for Mahindra.
Aston Martin
Jak Crawford 🇺🇸
Jak Crawford serves as Aston Martin’s reserve driver in 2026, having progressed from FIA Formula 3 into Formula 2, where he’s been a consistent frontrunner and race winner. The American, formerly a Red Bull junior, is recognized for his speed and versatility as he steps into the F1 environment.
Belgian, Stoffel Vandorne, is also named as a Simulator, Test and Reserve Driver by Aston Martin. However, with Crawford named as ‘third’ driver, he would be in the hot seat should Lance Stroll or Fernando Alonso not be able to fulfil their usual duties.
Audi
TBC
As of the beginning of February 2026, Audi have not yet confirmed a reserve driver for the 2026 season, though it is expected that they will do so in the immediate future.
Among the candidates mooted for the role include former F2 champion, Theo Pourchaire, and Barbadian driver Zane Maloney, due to their association with the Sauber academy.
Cadillac
Zhou Guanyu 🇨🇳
In their debut season, F1’s newest constructor have confirmed that Zhou Guanyu will be their reserve driver for 2026.
Guanyu remains the only Chinese driver to ever race in Formula 1, and competed for three seasons for Alfa Romeo before and during their rebrand to Sauber. In his most recent season, he partnered Valtteri Bottas – one of Cadillac’s main drivers for this season.
Ferrari
Antonio Giovinazzi 🇮🇹
Ferrari approaches 2026 with a streamlined reserve driver arrangement following Zhou Guanyu’s switch to Cadillac.
Antonio Giovinazzi will continue as Ferrari’s reserve, a role he has effectively held for several seasons alongside his commitments in the World Endurance Championship, where he is a Le Mans winner with Ferrari’s Hypercar programme.
A former Sauber F1 race driver and long-time Ferrari affiliate, Giovinazzi provides experience, continuity and deep familiarity with the team’s operations should he be called upon.
Haas
Ryō Hirakawa 🇯🇵
Haas keeps Ryō Hirakawa in place as its reserve driver for 2026, with the Japanese racer now well embedded in the team’s Formula 1 set-up after making several FP1 appearances during the 2025 season.
Best known for his success in endurance racing, Hirakawa is a two-time WEC Hypercar champion and a Le Mans overall winner with Toyota, and brings a wealth of experience from both prototype competition and previous F1 affiliations with Alpine and McLaren after joining Haas through Toyota’s growing partnership with the team.
McLaren
Leonardo Fornaroli 🇮🇹
Leonardo Fornaroli joins McLaren’s reserve driver line-up for 2026 after establishing himself as one of the standout talents of the junior single-seater ladder. The Italian enjoyed a remarkable rise through the ranks, claiming back-to-back FIA Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles before being signed to McLaren’s driver development programme at the end of 2025. As Formula 1 enters a new regulatory era, Fornaroli will combine simulator work and testing duties while continuing his own development within the team.
Pato O’Ward 🇲🇽
Pato O’Ward continues to feature in McLaren’s reserve driver plans, combining his front-running IndyCar career with regular exposure to Formula 1 machinery.
The Mexican, a multiple IndyCar race winner, has built up F1 experience through testing and FP1 appearances – most notably at his home race in Mexico – giving McLaren a sharp, proven alternative within its wider driver pool.
Mercedes
Frederik Vesti 🇩🇰
Mercedes retains Frederik Vesti as its reserve driver for the 2026 season, continuing a relationship that stretches back to his early days in the team’s junior ranks.
The former Formula 2 runner up has combined his reserve duties with a sports car campaign in IMSA, while gaining further F1 exposure through FP1 outings in 2025 and contributing to Mercedes’ work on its next-generation package.
Red Bull / Racing Bulls
Yuki Tsunoda 🇯🇵
Yuki Tsunoda remains part of the Red Bull and Racing Bulls driver pool for 2026, transitioning into a reserve role after losing his full-time seat following a brief and underwhelming stint with the senior Red Bull team in mid-2025.
A five-season Formula 1 race driver, Tsunoda first entered the sport with AlphaTauri in 2021 and quickly built a reputation for his raw speed, aggressive racecraft and qualifying performances. Now drawing on that experience, the Japanese driver concentrates on simulator work, along with testing and development duties.
Williams
Luke Browning 🇬🇧
Luke Browning steps into Williams’ reserve driver role for 2026, marking the latest milestone in a rapid rise through the single-seater ranks. After developing within the Williams Driver Academy, the British racer enjoyed a breakthrough Formula 2 season, finishing fourth overall with nine podiums and a victory, underlining his consistency and racecraft.
Alongside his simulator and support duties for Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, Browning will broaden his experience further by contesting his first season of Japanese Super Formula with Team Kondo Racing, giving him exposure to one of the most competitive championships outside Formula 1.
Watch Formula 1 live in 2026
From wheel-to-wheel battles to the atmosphere you only get trackside, watching Formula 1 live offers a completely different perspective on the sport.
With races taking place across the world throughout the season, there are plenty of opportunities to experience a Grand Prix in person – whether that’s securing tickets well in advance or planning a trip around a race that fits your calendar.
