World Cup fever hits the F1 paddock

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially underway, and the paddock is buzzing. With 48 nations competing for the trophy, 18 of our drivers are firmly behind their home teams. It is a massive summer for the sport, with the final set for July 19.

England leads the pack with five drivers—Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, George Russell, Ollie Bearman, and Arvid Lindblad—all hoping for a result under manager Thomas Tuchel. France follows with Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, and Isack Hadjar cheering on their side, while Spain’s Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso look to build on their European championship form.

Elsewhere, Sergio Perez is pinning his hopes on tournament hosts Mexico, while Lance Stroll will be watching Canada’s historic home campaign. Franco Colapinto is backing Argentina to defend their title, Gabriel Bortoleto is supporting Brazil, Max Verstappen is behind the Netherlands, and Nico Hulkenberg is cheering for Germany. Oscar Piastri is rooting for Australia, and Liam Lawson is keeping an eye on New Zealand's run in the tournament.