2026 Formula 1 Season
The 2026 season is underway. New regulations, new power units, completely reshuffled grid. Round 1 went to Mercedes in Melbourne.
Australian Grand Prix · Round 1 · Melbourne · Mar 8 2026
Team Verdicts
Mercedes
The W16 is a proper reset. Russell looks fast, Antonelli has been composed, and the car looks fundamentally different. Hard to know how much they are hiding but they go in as genuine title contenders for the first time since 2022.
Ferrari
Fastest in testing, consistent long runs, happy drivers. Only worry is whether they peaked too early. Leclerc will be hungry and Hamilton in his first season will want to make a statement immediately.
McLaren
Deceptively low-key in testing but the mileage was real. Reigning constructors champions. Norris and Piastri are the strongest pairing on the grid and they know how to manage a title fight after 2024.
Red Bull
More mileage than anyone but rear stability concerns are real. Verstappen will extract the maximum from whatever they give him, but this might be the season where the car finally limits him.
Haas
Bearman and Ocon is a proper midfield lineup. Bearman has already shown in his Ferrari cameos that the pace is real. The car looked solid in testing. Could be the surprise package of the season.
The Midfield
The midfield looks closer than ever. Williams with Sainz are a genuine threat. Alpine are enigmatic as always. All five teams could score points on any given weekend depending on track and conditions.
Driver Focus
2026 Testing
2026 Outlook
P4 in testing might look concerning at first glance but Max ran more laps than anyone, clearly prioritising setup work and long-run data over chasing a headline time. Red Bull always play testing conservatively. The rear instability concerns are real, but there's no one better at dragging a car to the front through sheer pace and racecraft. He'll be in the title fight. He always is.
Season Preview
Ferrari to take the constructors' title. For the drivers' championship it comes down to two: Russell has been the most consistent driver over the past two seasons and the Mercedes looks genuinely fast. Verstappen is Verstappen — four world titles, more experience under pressure than anyone on the grid, and Red Bull still have the best infrastructure in the paddock. My personal pick is Max. The car might not be the outright fastest but he finds a way.
Ollie Bearman. The Haas seat is his first full season and he has already shown in his Ferrari cameos that the pace is real. No one on the grid right now has more to prove or more upside. Watch him closely in the first five rounds — if he outscores Ocon consistently, the conversation around him changes fast.