The 2026 System One season will get underway in Melbourne on March 8 with McLaren’s Lando Norris seeking to retain his world championship title whereas Max Verstappen goals to tear it again off him.
Predictions are troublesome to make forward of the 24-race season, which is scheduled to complete in Abu Dhabi firstly of December, due to the sweeping modifications in chassis and engine rules.
However the conflict between favorites might present some of the fascinating seasons but.
AFP Sport picks out 5 issues to look out for within the pit lane:
Deny
The fingers have been pointing, the accusations made — and no one has stepped ahead to confess that, sure, they have been ‘sandbagging’. That is the pit lane parlance for dialing again on efficiency in pre-season testing.
Crimson Bull’s Max Verstappen took goal at Mercedes.
“Simply wait till Melbourne and see how a lot energy they all of a sudden discover… see how briskly they all of a sudden go on all of the straights,” stated the four-time champion.
In the meantime, Williams boss James Vowles put the highlight again on Crimson Bull in Bahrain, suggesting that “video games are being performed” when their tempo all of a sudden slowed.
It’s, in fact, solely regular to try to conceal a bonus, regardless of how tiny, for once they line up in Melbourne however that is simply the primary of the numerous rows that are certain to erupt throughout this primary season underneath new guidelines.
Model new Cadillac
Be careful: the People are coming! First it was Haas becoming a member of the grid in 2016 and now it’s Cadillac, some of the well-known names within the auto enterprise, who’re angling to set the “normal of the world”.
It isn’t fairly their first foray into F1, though in 1952 and 1953 they offered engines solely and didn’t make the beginning in two editions of the Indy 500 — which counted as a part of the world championship.
As new boys, the Basic Motors-financed group can be counting on expertise within the cockpit, the place Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will launch the group, and underneath the bonnet.
Cadillac won’t be making their very own energy models till 2029 so can be counting on Ferrari till then.
“I firmly imagine we have a platform that, as a group, we will actually begin transferring ahead on,” stated group principal Graeme Lowdon within the pre-season.
“That is most likely essentially the most that you possibly can ever ask for from a brand new group, except there’s some full miracle.”
The proper profile
One other new group to look out for is Audi who’ve a wealthy historical past in motorsport — winners of Le Mans, the Dakar Rally and the World Rally Championship — however are dipping their toes within the F1 waters for the primary time.
The German group acquired the Sauber slot and have retained the driving expertise of veteran Nico Hulkenberg, who lastly acquired his first podium final season at Silverstone after 15 years and 239 races, and 21-year-old Gabriel Bortoleto.
Audi had a very good pre-season exercise and will shock just a few individuals though group principal Jonathan Wheatley is making no guarantees.
“Now we have no illusions concerning the quantity of labor remaining or the extent of competitors we’ll face in Melbourne,” he stated after testing in Sakhir.
Profession alternatives
At 18 years and 212 days by the point the lights go on in Melbourne, Arvid Lindblad will turn out to be the fourth-youngest driver of all-time to make his F1 debut, behind Verstappen, Lance Stroll and Kimi Antonelli.
{The teenager}, who will compete as a Briton but in addition has Swedish and Indian heritage via his mother and father, can be within the Racing Bulls seat with Liam Lawson.
He’s the one rookie on the grid this season however comes with pedigree: he gained three races in System 2 in 2025 — two of them as a 17-year-old — and has been on Crimson Bull’s radar since he was 12.
He was disarmingly frank in January about his emotions with regard to his readiness to make the step up.
“I do not know. I imply, I’ve acquired so much to be taught. If I am solely prepared, I do not know,” he advised F1 TV.
King of the highway
On the different finish of the age spectrum, Fernando Alonso, 44, and Lewis Hamilton, 41, could also be duking it out for the final time in F1.
Alonso, who gained each his world titles earlier than Lindblad was born, is within the final 12 months of his contract with Aston Martin whose sputtering pre-season doesn’t bode properly.
Hamilton, additionally within the final 12 months of his contract with Ferrari, had a horrible season final 12 months however is filled with struggle once more as he seeks an eighth world title.
“I do know what must be accomplished. That is going to be one hell of a season!” he posted.
