For F1 fans, there’s not long to wait now. March 8, 2026, in Melbourne, is when it all begins for real and when the phoney war ends.
Five days of testing in Barcelona between January 26 and 31 gave us as many clues as you’d expect from a behind-closed-doors test. But two three-day tests followed in Bahrain, where there was rather more on offer in the way of data and information.
But, as ever in testing, the teams were unwilling to reveal their full hand, so it was left to the media present to try and fill in the gaps. This is, in part, due to so much of it being new.
Big changes
Not since 2022, when regulation changes saw the advent of the ground effect chassis, have there been such large-scale changes to the cars.
This year, they are smaller, lighter, and more nimble, with no ground effect and no DRS (drag reduction system) to assist in overtaking. Most of you probably know this stuff, but if you’re happy for me to go all technical on you for a moment, the most notable changes to the 2026 cars are as follows:
- Active aerodynamics in the form of movable wings for drag reduction and downforce.
- A significant power unit shift – 50% electric/50% combustion.
- 100% sustainable fuel, eliminating the MGU-H (Motor Generator Unit – Heat) component.
- An ‘overtake mode’ for power boosts to replace DRS.
- Shorter wheelbase (200mm shorter – down to 3400mm).
- Narrower chassis (100mm narrower – down to 1900mm).
- Reduced weight (30kg lighter – down to 768kg).
- Narrower front tyres (reduced by 25mm – down to 275mm).
- Narrower rear tyres (reduced by 30mm – down to 375mm).
The overall impact is yet to be fully revealed in its entirety, but testing has shown it has the potential to shake up the natural order of the grid. The development of these brand new cars within the cost-cap potentially levels the playing field for the smaller teams.
For the first time, eleven teams are lining up on the grid, with a new team, Cadillac, making its F1 debut. Let’s take a quick look at the 2026 runners and riders, and see where the experts think are right now based on the Bahrain tests:
The ‘big four’
1. Mercedes (W17)
- Verdict: The benchmark for the new era. They logged 1,554 laps across all testing sessions, so they have reliability and lots of data.
- Expert View: While they didn’t chase the fastest lap on the final day, rival engineers commented on their “superior energy management.” The W17 appears to deploy its electric power more efficiently over a full lap than any other car.
- Status: The team to beat for the title.
2. Ferrari (SF-26)
- Verdict: The ‘speed merchants’. Charles Leclerc set the pre-season benchmark over a single lap (1:31.992).
- Expert View: Ferrari’s rotating active rear wing and innovative turbocharger design have given them a significant advantage in traction and standing starts. There are slight concerns about tyre wear over long stints, but their one-lap pace is currently unmatched.
- Status: Front-row starters in Melbourne.
3. McLaren (MCL40)
- Verdict: Reliable and fast. The reigning champions are in the mix but may have slipped slightly behind the works teams.
- Expert View: Andrea Stella admits they are likely “a step behind” Mercedes and Ferrari. However, their consistency is high, and they finished the test as the only team to cross the 800-lap mark in Bahrain. They’ll be in the mix.
- Status: Podium contenders and currently ‘best of the rest’.
4. Red Bull (RB22)
- Verdict: A historic transition. Their first-ever in-house Red Bull-Ford engine ran with surprising reliability.
- Expert View: Max Verstappen looked comfortable, but the car lacked the innovation seen at Ferrari. Pundits suggest they are currently the fourth-fastest team, though their energy harvesting strategy is reportedly very advanced.
- Status: Starting slightly on the back foot, but anything is possible with Max at the wheel.
The midfield
5. Williams (FW48)
- Verdict: Lost ground after missing the Barcelona test but performed encouragingly in Bahrain. Despite the Mercedes engine, the chassis is reportedly over the new 768kg weight limit.
- Expert View: Carlos Sainz was vocal about the car’s limitations. They have good straight-line speed, but struggled in the technical Sector 2 of Bahrain.
- Status: Midfield runners in Australia.
6. Haas (VF-26)
- Verdict: The surprise of the winter. With the Ferrari engine and a refined chassis, theirs was reportedly “the easiest midfield car to drive.”
- Expert View: Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon consistently posted times in the Top 10. They look poised to potentially head the midfield pack, at least initially.
- Status: Serious points contenders.
7. Alpine (A526)
- Verdict: The ‘phoenix from the flames’. After a dismal 2025, their switch to Mercedes power looks to have transformed the car.
- Expert View: Pierre Gasly set the fifth fastest time of the entire Bahrain test. While their chassis is still being refined, the power boost alone has catapulted them to the heart of the midfield.
- Status: Potential to fight for P5-P6 in the standings.
8. Racing Bulls (VCARB 03)
- Verdict: The high-mileage winners. Rookie Arvid Lindblad logged a staggering 165 laps on the final day alone.
- Expert View: The car looks twitchy on downshifts as they calibrate the new Ford power unit. They have the reliability, but the peak performance isn’t quite there yet.
- Status: Stable midfield runners.
9. Audi (R26)
- Verdict: A steady start. The works Audi engine sounded less refined than its rivals early on, but was smoothed out by the second test.
- Expert View: Gabriel Bortoleto’s long-run pace was competitive with Williams and Racing Bulls. They aren’t about to explode onto the scene, but they are not backmarkers either.
- Status: Occasional point scorers.
The strugglers
10. Cadillac (V-Series.R)
- Verdict: A respectable but low-key start. Running the Ferrari engine, they focused on data gathering rather than performance.
- Expert View: They finished roughly 3.3 seconds off the pace. But, while slow, they were remarkably reliable for a brand-new team, completing over 580 laps.
- Status: Consistent backmarkers with a high ceiling for growth.
11. Aston Martin (AMR26)
- Verdict: A nightmare test in Bahrain. Despite Adrian Newey’s influence, they managed only 128 laps—the lowest in the pit lane.
- Expert View: Major battery integration issues with the new Honda power unit kept Fernando Alonso in the garage for most of the second test. They enter the season as the most underprepared team on the grid.
- Status: Currently in emergency recovery mode.
