Who are the 2026 F1 Sim Racing World Championship drivers?

The F1 Sim Racing World Championship is back for 2026, and it promises to be the biggest season yet. The action gets underway with a three-day spectacular at DreamHack in Birmingham from 27–29 March, before the series heads to the F1 Media and Technology Centre in Biggin Hill for the remaining three events.

Over 12 rounds and four bumper events, there's only one goal for these drivers – the top step of the podium. With Suzuka making a welcome return, and the all-new 2026 version of Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya making its first-ever appearance in the championship, this season's calendar has a fresh feel too.

Off-track, the grid has been shaken up significantly. Thirteen roster changes and three rookies mean plenty of new combinations to watch out for – but one name casts a shadow over the field...

Jarno Opmeer enters the new season as the reigning Drivers' Champion with Red Bull, having made history last season by becoming the first driver to win three F1 Sim Racing World Championship titles – with his team also claiming the 2025 Constructors' Championship, Red Bull’s third overall.

So, who will be chasing them down this season? Let's meet the 2026 grid...

Alpine

Josh Idowu | #52 | Great Britain

Idowu has three podiums across 38 race starts and will be looking to convert that experience into consistent points-scoring race runs... and perhaps even a maiden podium in 2026?

Otis Lawrence | #45 | Wales

Two wins and 108 points from just 12 race starts, including an epic victory at the 2025 season finale – Lawrence wasted absolutely no time making his mark to become the youngest-ever race winner. Making the switch from Aston Martin for this season, all eyes will be on whether he can sustain that early form with his new team.

Daniel Bereznay | #15 | Hungary

Finishing 2025 with P9 in the Drivers’ Championship, Bereznay’s five victories and 19 podiums speak to a driver with genuine title-contending pedigree. Moving from Mercedes, Bereznay will be hoping a fresh environment is the catalyst for a championship push.

Aston Martin

Jan Haladej | #88 | Czech Republic (Rookie)

One of just three rookies on the 2026 grid, Haladej arrives with plenty of anticipation surrounding him. The sole Czech driver on the grid was promoted from his development driver role and will look to make a splash in his debut season.

Duncan Hofland | #26 | The Netherlands

Hofland is one of five Dutch drivers on the grid, and after achieving his first-ever points score in Mexico City last season, he'll be looking to build on that momentum this year with some more top-10 finishes...

Ruben Pedreno | #93 | Spain

The 2026 season marks a new chapter for Pedreno, who joins from Williams looking to take the next step in his career, where he'll be eager to prove the move was the right decision.

Ferrari

Ismael Fahssi | #54 | Spain

Six podiums and a race win already to his name, Fahssi arrives at Ferrari from Williams with something to prove. He started off the 2025 season with a dominant pole and win at the opening race – can he replicate it this season?

Bari Broumand | #77 | Iran

With seven wins, 20 podiums, 531 race starts and back-to-back P3 Drivers’ Championship finishes in the last two seasons – Broumand is absolutely one of the titans of this series. The only question is whether he can finally become the Champion this year.

John Evans | #32 | Great Britain

For his second season in the series as the team’s third driver, Evans will be looking to grow into a key part of a strong Ferrari line-up and to achieve his first points-scoring finish.

Haas

Gabor Csontos | #71 | Hungary (Rookie)

Previously competitive in the FIA F4 Esports Regional Tour and the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup, Csontos steps into the championship with Haas as one to watch. It’ll be a steep learning curve for the Haas rookie, and he’ll have all eyes on him heading to China’s season opener.

Tamas Gal | #34 | Hungary

With a maiden championship point on the board in 2025, the 2024 PSGL F2 Champion will be looking to improve his consistency in his second season in order to score some regular points for the team.

Joris Croezen | #36 | The Netherlands

Croezen came excruciatingly close to his first points after finishing P11 in Saudi Arabia and Mexico City last season, so 2026 provides the Dutch driver a fresh slate to hopefully pick up some points in his second season for Haas.

McLaren

Alfie Butcher | #41 | Great Britain

Two wins and three podiums in his rookie season in 2025 – extraordinary numbers for such limited racing, and McLaren will be hoping Butcher can translate those early flashes of brilliance into a sustained title challenge after his P6 in the Drivers’ Championship last season.

Jake Benham | #25 | Great Britain

After two back-to-back podiums in Saudi Arabia and Great Britain, his move from Mercedes to McLaren this season suggests the popular Benham is ready to step things up a level in 2026.

Wilson Hughes | #42 | Great Britain

Hughes completes McLaren's fully British line-up – and as a long-term member of the team, he'll be pushing hard to leave his mark across the 12-round season after picking up his first points in 2024.

Mercedes

Thomas Ronhaar | #39 | The Netherlands

Six wins, 19 podiums, 12 poles and 459 points. Ronhaar is one of the most decorated drivers to have switched teams this winter, arriving from Kick Sauber as perhaps the headline signing of the off-season. He will no doubt be expected to lead this new-look Mercedes from the front.

Tycho Hardy | #74 | The Netherlands

He’s only got two race starts to his name so far, but Hardy has been working hard over the FIA Formula 4 Challenge season last year to up his race craft. Also arriving from Kick Sauber, he'll be sure to develop fast alongside a veteran of the grid in Ronhaar.

Julian Klaffenbock | #11 | Austria (Rookie)

At just 17 years old, Klaffenbock will be the youngest driver on the 2026 grid. An extraordinary achievement and he will no doubt be one to watch for plenty of years to come...

Racing Bulls

Tom Manley | #2 | Great Britain

With a podium already on the board, it only seems a matter of time before Manley achieves his first race win. Could he make it happen in 2026 with Racing Bulls?

Joni Tormala | #51 | Finland

At 70 race starts, Tormala is undoubtedly a championship veteran who knows sim racing and the circuits as well as anyone. He returns to Racing Bulls this season, a team he raced for previously under the AlphaTauri banner between 2020–2024. Few drivers bring more experience to the grid, and we can’t wait to see what he does with it...

Ulas Ozyildirim | #95 | Turkey

Ozyildirim lines up for Racing Bulls again this year, ready to make his presence felt after achieving a brilliant pole in China last season – will he be able to convert it to a long-awaited podium in 2026?

Red Bull

Frederik Rasmussen | #67 | Denmark

Amassing 12 wins, 35 podiums, 15 poles and 844 championship points, Rasmussen is one of the all-time greats of this series. The former World Champion remains as quick and competitive as ever – expect him to be in the mix at every single round.

Jarno Opmeer | #89 | The Netherlands

The reigning Champion and a record-breaker – three world titles with three different teams, and he still seems to be getting better. His impressive stats of 12 wins, 27 podiums and 758 points tell only part of the story — Opmeer's consistency makes him the driver to beat in 2026.

Sebastian Job | #13 | Great Britain

One podium from 19 starts so far, Job knows he has his illustrious team-mates firmly in his sights this season, so the opportunity to learn and develop couldn't be greater for the Briton – and he'll be hungry to close that gap this season...

Williams

Alvaro Carreton | #21 | Spain

With 72 race starts, Carreton is the most experienced racer on the entire 2026 grid. He’s racked up three podiums, two poles and five fastest laps – and yet that first win continues to elude him. His poles and fastest laps prove he has the raw pace, but could 2026 finally be the year the patient Spaniard converts it into a victory?

Istvan Puki | #62 | Hungary

Three podiums from just eight race starts is a pretty outstanding return. Puki arrives from Mercedes as one of the more exciting additions to Williams' line-up for 2026, and will be keen to pick up where he left off, and hopefully upgrade one of his P2s in Australia, Bahrain and Belgium.

Nicolas Longuet | #40 | France

With three race wins, 14 podiums and eight poles, Longuet is one of the most accomplished drivers to switch teams over the off-season, making the move from Ferrari to Williams. Without a win in 2025, he’ll be looking to get back to the top step during the 2026 season.