The 2026 Formula 1 season looks dramatically different from the one fans last watched in Drive to Survive. With an 11th team joining the grid, major regulation changes, returning faces and rookie shake-ups, the sport has entered what many are already calling a new era ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix weekend.

Netflix recently released a new season catch-up guide ahead of the FORMULA 1 LENOVO GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2026, helping fans get up to speed after months of dramatic changes across the sport. The timing also comes after an unexpected pause in the calendar, with both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix cancelled due to regional conflict, leaving teams and drivers heading into Montreal after a rare three-week break.

But while the championship battle is already beginning to take shape, much of the conversation around Formula 1 in 2026 has centered on how unfamiliar the sport suddenly feels compared to even a year ago.

One of the biggest shifts this season has been the arrival of Cadillac as Formula 1’s 11th team, expanding the grid to 22 drivers for the first time in years. The team has also brought back familiar faces, with Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas returning to full-time race seats after time away, while Audi officially entered Formula 1 following its takeover of Sauber.

The sport’s new technical regulations have also shaken up the competitive order. Teams are now working with dramatically different cars and engines than the ones used in 2025, leading to unexpected early performances across the field. Mercedes has adapted quickest to the changes so far, with George Russell and rising star Kimi Antonelli helping establish an early advantage, while McLaren and Red Bull have experienced bumpier starts than many expected.

There have also been notable off-track developments, including the departure of longtime Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, marking the end of one of the sport’s most dominant leadership eras. Meanwhile, the Canadian Grand Prix weekend will include a Sprint format, meaning fans will get two qualifying sessions and two races packed into a single race weekend.

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But beyond the regulation changes and expanded grid, one of the biggest reasons 2026 feels so different lies in the drivers themselves.

The driver market has undergone major reshuffling this season, highlighted by Lewis Hamilton’s blockbuster switch to Ferrari, instantly changing the championship picture and reshaping expectations around one of Formula 1’s most iconic teams. Several other garages have also undergone major changes, giving the paddock a very different look compared to the end of 2025.

Meanwhile, several drivers who entered Formula 1 as rookies last year are no longer simply learning the ropes. In just his second season, Kimi Antonelli has already emerged as one of the biggest stories in the sport, winning races for Mercedes and quickly turning himself into an early title contender. Other younger drivers have also begun settling into their new teams as the next generation slowly takes center stage.

The return of experienced names alongside the rise of younger talent has only added to the unpredictability of the season, making 2026 feel less like a continuation of last year and more like the start of a completely new Formula 1 chapter.

Heading into the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, fans are not only watching a championship unfold but also witnessing one of the biggest transitional periods Formula 1 has seen in years. Between new teams, technical shake-ups and changing driver dynamics, the sport entering Montreal feels almost entirely reinvented.

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Which Formula 1 change has surprised you the most so far in 2026? Let us know in the comments.