By Juna Tharakan
Formula 1’s 2026 season arrives with one of the biggest regulation overhauls in years, including radically revised chassis and engine rules designed to improve the racing spectacle and performance parity. That shake-up has scrambled the pecking order and left pundits and bettors alike reassessing who will be at the sharp end of the grid.
Early Team Rankings
With official races still on the horizon, early rankings are being shaped by pre-season tests, technical programmes and bookmaker odds rather than championship points but a consensus is forming:
- Mercedes: Tipped by insiders and rivals alike as the early benchmark for 2026, Mercedes looks strong out of the gate thanks to a comprehensive power unit and development approach. CEO Zak Brown of McLaren even acknowledged them as the team to beat so far, emphasising how unpredictable this new era could be.
- McLaren: The defending Constructors’ Champions from 2024 and 2025 remain in contention, but recent odds suggest they might be a slight underdog to Mercedes this year as the regulation reset cuts against inherited momentum.
- Ferrari: Often lurking near the top in tricky years, Ferrari is forecast to rebound, with some models predicting a climb compared with their 2025 finish.
- Red Bull: After several championship-winning seasons earlier in the decade, Red Bull’s future hinges on a newly developed in-house power unit. If that proves competitive, they could be right in the mix.
- Aston Martin: With F1 design legend Adrian Newey now leading the engineering department and a Honda works engine partnership, Aston Martin might just disrupt the midfield and challenge higher than expected. Mercedes star George Russell has even pointed to them as a potential dark horse.
- Midfield Battles: Teams like Williams, Alpine, Audi (formerly Sauber) and Racing Bulls are expected to lock horns for points, podiums and occasional surprises, while newcomers such as Cadillac, bolstered by experienced drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez in their debut, add spice to the grid.
Championship Predictions
Drivers’ Standings
The early favourites on most prediction boards and betting markets include:
- George Russell (Mercedes): Many pundits, including former driver Karun Chandhok, see Russell as a strong favourite for the 2026 Drivers’ Championship, particularly given Mercedes’ early pace.
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull): Never one to count out a multi-time champion, Verstappen remains one of the top threats if Red Bull gets the balance right.
- Lando Norris (McLaren): A consistent high performer and reigning world champion heading into 2026, Norris is likely to be in the title hunt if McLaren’s car lives up to expectations.
Beyond the top trio, drivers like Oscar Piastri (McLaren), Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and young Mercedes talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli are all in the conversation for strong seasons, with some media outlets noting potential shake-up within team lineups.
Constructors’ Championship
Though it’s early days, the Constructors’ Championship narrative mirrors the drivers’ picture:
- Mercedes: Favoured to challenge for the title thanks to early form and depth.
- McLaren: Expected to push hard for a third straight crown.
- Ferrari and Red Bull: Both capable of podiums in the standings if they make the right gains mid-season.
Midfield teams will battle tightly for points, with Aston Martin’s resurgence under Newey’s leadership a story to watch.
What to Expect:
As the 2026 season starts, kicking off in Australia in March, the key storyline will be how quickly teams adapt to the new technical landscape and whether any unexpected challengers emerge from the midfield to shake up the order.
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Sources:
What we know (and don’t) about F1 in 2026 after Barcelona test – ESPN
Mercedes emerge as early benchmark for F1 2026, McLaren’s Brown says –
Tight F1 title races lie ahead as season of uncertainty approaches – Motorsport Week
TEAM PREVIEW: Cadillac – All you need to know about the team ahead of the 2026 F1 season
7 things to be excited for in the 2026 Formula 1 season
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