The Formula 1 landscape has shifted beneath our feet, and as we look toward the dawn of the 2026 season, the paddock feels like a completely different world. In a sport defined by speed, the most dramatic movements this winter haven’t been on the track—they’ve been in the boardrooms and behind the scenes. Two major stories have broken simultaneously, signaling the end of one dynasty and the ambitious rise of a new challenger.
While the arrival of General Motors’ giant, Cadillac, has brought fresh energy to the grid, the slow-motion collapse of the Red Bull Racing empire continues to stun fans and insiders alike. From the confirmation of Zhou Guanyu’s smart new alliance to the final nail in the coffin for Red Bull’s old guard, here is everything you need to know about the seismic shifts rocking Formula 1.
The Cadillac Coup: Zhou Guanyu Finds a New Home
First, let’s talk about survival and strategy. Zhou Guanyu, China’s first and only Formula 1 driver, has officially secured his future in the sport. After a challenging end to his tenure at Sauber (now Audi) in 2024 and a year spent in the prestigious but frustrating role of Ferrari’s reserve driver in 2025, Zhou has made a decisive move.
It has been confirmed that Zhou will join the newly formed Cadillac Formula 1 Team as their official Reserve Driver for their debut season in 2026.
At first glance, moving from Ferrari—the sport’s most historic team—to a rookie outfit might seem like a step down. But dig a little deeper, and this looks like a masterstroke. Zhou isn’t just joining a “new team”; he is joining a project backed by the immense financial and technical might of General Motors, and perhaps more importantly, he is walking into a room filled with familiar faces.
“Rejoining the Family”
The move reunites Zhou with Valtteri Bottas, his former teammate at Alfa Romeo/Sauber. The chemistry between the two was always solid, with Bottas serving as a mentor figure during Zhou’s rookie years. With Bottas and Sergio “Checo” Perez confirmed as Cadillac’s starting race drivers, Zhou enters an environment where he is known, respected, and valued.
Speaking on the move, Zhou described the opportunity as a chance to be part of something historic. “They’re not setting up a team just to be on the grid; they’re setting up a team trying to compete,” Zhou said. “To be the team’s only reserve driver… I feel like this is the best opportunity for me in order to be back behind the wheel.”
For Cadillac, signing Zhou is a no-brainer. They get a driver with 68 Grand Prix starts, recent experience with the 2025 Ferrari power unit (which Cadillac will use as a customer team initially), and significant commercial appeal in the Asian market. For Zhou, it places him next to two drivers, Perez and Bottas, who are both in the latter stages of their careers. If a seat opens up in 2027, Zhou is perfectly positioned to take it.
The Red Bull Exodus: The End of an Era
While Cadillac builds its future, Red Bull Racing appears to be watching its glorious past walk out the door. The team that dominated the first half of the 2020s is currently undergoing what can only be described as a “hard reset”—or perhaps, a collapse.
The latest blow came this week with the confirmation that Will Courtenay, Red Bull’s long-serving Head of Strategy, has officially started work at McLaren as their new Sporting Director.
This is not just another staff transfer. Courtenay was a “lifer.” He spent 22 years at Red Bull, 15 of them leading the strategy team that outsmarted Ferrari and Mercedes time and time again. He was the voice on the radio making the split-second calls that won Max Verstappen championships. Losing him to McLaren—the very team that snatched the Constructors’ title away—is a strategic disaster for Milton Keynes.
The “Gardening Leave” Twist
What makes this sting even more is the timing. Red Bull had originally stated that Courtenay would be held to his contract terms, keeping him on “gardening leave” (a forced break to prevent sharing secrets) until mid-2026. However, in a surprising turn of events, an agreement was reached to release him early.
Courtenay took to LinkedIn to confirm his departure: “After 22 years at Red Bull Racing… I’m excited to say that I’m now embarking on a new challenge joining the McLaren Racing Formula 1 team.”
His arrival at McLaren in January 2026 means he can immediately impact the team’s operations for the new season, bringing two decades of winning secrets with him.
A Team Stripped to the Bone
Courtenay’s exit is merely the aftershock of a much larger earthquake. To understand the gravity of the situation, we have to look at the list of names that have vanished from the Red Bull garage in the last 18 months. The “Brain Drain” is absolute:
Adrian Newey: The design genius responsible for every championship car Red Bull ever built left in early 2025.
Jonathan Wheatley: The Sporting Director who ran the garage like a military operation left in 2024 to lead the Audi project.
Christian Horner: In the most shocking twist of the 2025 season, the Team Principal who built the team from scratch was dismissed in July following a power struggle and a dip in performance.
Helmut Marko: The 82-year-old advisor and “godfather” of the driver program stepped down in December 2025 after Max Verstappen narrowly lost the title to Lando Norris.
The “Triumvirate” that ran Red Bull—Horner, Marko, and Newey—is gone. The team is now unrecognizable compared to the juggernaut that crushed the competition in 2023.
What This Means for 2026
The 2026 season brings massive regulation changes to engines and chassis. Historically, this is when teams with stable leadership thrive (like Mercedes in 2014) and teams in chaos crumble.
McLaren now possesses a “Dream Team” management structure, bolstered by Red Bull’s former best minds. Cadillac is entering with the hunger of a new contender and a lineup of veteran winners in Perez and Bottas. Meanwhile, Red Bull is entering the new era without its captain (Horner), its navigator (Courtenay), or its architect (Newey).
The Max Verstappen Factor
The biggest question mark remaining is Max Verstappen. The Dutchman lost the 2025 title by a heartbreaking two points. He has watched his “protective circle” (Marko and Horner) vanish. With Courtenay now wearing McLaren papaya orange, one has to wonder: how long will Max stay loyal to a team that is a shell of its former self?
The 2026 season hasn’t even started, but the battle lines have already been redrawn. McLaren looks stronger than ever, Cadillac is making all the right moves, and Red Bull is fighting to stop the bleeding.
Buckle up, F1 fans. This year is going to be wild.