Buckle up – F1 cars are firing up, and the pedal’s to the metal until December

After months of waiting, anticipation, testing, analysis, and predictions for the new season, the new Formula 1 cars will hit the track at Albert Park in Melbourne in just a few days for the first race of the season – the Australian Grand Prix.

The most devoted fans have already binge-watched the new season of Drive to Survive on Netflix, which offers a kind of recap of the previous F1 season. But now it’s time for the real thing. This upcoming weekend, from Friday to Sunday, will mark the first of 24 rounds of the 2026 championship, where cars built under the new technical regulations will face each other head-to-head for the first time.

Every true F1 follower knows that pre-season testing results should not be taken at face value, as they are influenced by many factors, including engine settings, fuel loads, and tires. It’s also worth noting the phenomenon of “sandbagging,” where teams deliberately hide their performance to mislead rivals into thinking they are at a disadvantage.

While the first race is needed for a true measure of relative performance, it would be foolish not to expect the four giants to fight at the top again this season – McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull.

McLaren enters the new season as reigning Constructors’ Champions, while their driver Lando Norris will attempt to defend his first Drivers’ Championship. Norris, alongside Oscar Piastri, forms a pairing for the fourth consecutive season that will battle rival teams, and the parity among them and the “Papaya” team is expected to continue.

Pre-season testing wasn’t particularly impressive for the current champions, with third and fourth fastest times and fourth in total laps completed – behind Mercedes, Haas, and Ferrari. Team Principal Andrea Stella is aware of where the team stands but is satisfied with their work so far.

"Within the leading group, we believe Ferrari and Mercedes are a step ahead, though it’s hard to gauge the exact gap. On our side, we’re happy with what we’ve seen in our car, but equally aware that some of our main rivals have done an outstanding job."

Mercedes’ duo of George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli looks strong, and 2026 may be the year that the more experienced Russell competes for the world championship for the first time. Mercedes has been considered a favorite for months, according to paddock rumors, and testing somewhat confirmed their advantage, particularly in race simulations. However, the engine compression saga could disrupt their plans during the season.

For Ferrari, the upcoming season carries a “now or never” motto. Charles Leclerc and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton spent much of last season searching for stability, but the team’s focus early this year has shifted to developing the car for the new era. Judging by testing performances, this seems to have been successful, with Ferrari looking like a team that will constantly fight at the top – a level they last reached in 2008.

As for Red Bull, the Austrian team is producing its own power unit for the first time, in collaboration with Ford, which is no easy task. Many doubted the reliability of the new engine, but testing showed that the RB22 is performing without major issues.

While Mercedes and Ferrari appear slightly more consistent, Red Bull’s biggest asset remains four-time champion Max Verstappen. There’s no doubt the Dutchman will push the car to its maximum in every race, while his new teammate, Isaac Hadjar, faces a tough challenge – keeping up with Verstappen.