F1 2026 preview: Team-by-team predictions as big adjustments threaten to shake up grid
The 2026 F1 season is soon upon us with the new regulations potentially throwing the form book from the past four years completely out of the window – here’s our preview and predictions
Lando Norris is looking to defend his World Championship in 2026(Image: FIA/DPPI via Getty Images)
The F1 season is fast upon us as the most unpredictable year in quite some time is sure to throw up major drama.
Set your alarms for 4am on Sunday, March 8 as the Australian Grand Prix sees the first chequered flag of the year waved, and plenty of questions about teams and drivers’ expectations will surely be answered. One week out from the start of the new era of F1, the Daily Star Sport previews every team.
The new season brings a host of regulation changes and two new teams to the grid – the introduction of Cadillac as an eleventh team with the experienced pairing of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez returning to the track, while Audi brings a new era after taking over Sauber’s spot on the grid.
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The arrival of two automotive giants provides just one new dimension to an enthralling year.
If you thought Lando Norris was under pressure last year to win his maiden world title, just wait for Max Verstappen’s revenge tour and Oscar Piastri fighting to prove he has what it takes to be a champion after being pipped by his team-mate.
Throw in Ferrari and Mercedes looking strong after testing and the battle at the top couldn’t look to be any tighter heading into the season opener. The excitement will only be amplified by the release of the latest Drive to Survive season – the fly-on-the-wall docuseries giving an exclusive insight into the 2025 season.
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McLaren
Team principal: Andrea StellaDrivers: Lando Norris (world champion) and Oscar Piastri (3rd)Constructors’ result 2025: 1st2026 prediction: 2nd
Last season’s Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championship-winning side, McLaren were head and shoulders above the competition last year, with Norris and Piastri able to keep the peace in a title fight that should not have gone the distance to Abu Dhabi.
Nevertheless, the Woking team delivered both titles. This season they won’t have it all their own way with Mercedes looking the team to beat early on – even if they do share the same Mercedes-powered engine.
Mercedes
Team principal: Toto WolffDrivers: George Russell (4th) and Kimi Antonelli (7th)Constructors’ result 2025: 2nd2026 prediction: 1st
The Ground Effect era was a troubling time for the once dominant Mercedes team that harboured the most successful partnership in F1 history as Lewis Hamilton reeled off six world titles in seven years.
But if the early murmurs are to be believed – they’re the team to beat despite being uninspiring at testing in Bahrain, it would be no surprise if the Silver Arrows are holding more performance back.
Meanwhile, George Russell has proved himself as a future world champ and Kimi Antonelli has a major rookie year of learning under his belt.
Red Bull
Team Principal: Laurent MekiesDrivers: Max Verstappen (2nd) and Isack Hadjar (12th)Constructors’ result 2025: 3rd2026 prediction: 4th
A huge season of change in 2025 saw Christian Horner depart the team after two decades, but despite the odds, Verstappen proved why he is the best driver in the world to come within just two points of a fifth successive world title.
The Dutchman’s bid in 2026 looked good after paddock speculation suggested Red Bull were the early benchmark but the jury is out on their new Red Bull Ford powertrain.
Isack Hadjar also has an exciting year ahead after a thoroughly deserved promotion from Racing Bulls.
Ferrari
Team Principal: Fred VasseurDrivers: Charles Leclerc (5th) and Lewis Hamilton (6th)Constructors’ result 2025: 4th2026 prediction: 3rd
Pre-season is never the litmus test for a good season, but Ferrari certainly impressed as Charles Leclerc posted immensely quick times on day three.
Lewis Hamilton also spoke incredibly promisingly about the new car – stark contrast to his wretched debut season in Scarlett.
If the team can deliver potentially the strongest driver line-up on the grid a good car who knows what Ferrari can achieve.
Williams
Team Principal: James VowlesDrivers: Alex Albon (8th) and Carlos Sainz (9th)Constructors’ result 2025: 5th2026 prediction: 9th
A brilliant year last time out for the Grove team saw Carlos Sainz score two podium finishes as Williams finished in a division of their own at the top of the midfield.
However, preparation for this season has not gone to plan to say the least, the nine-time Constructors champions are on the back foot after missing the first test of the year in Barcelona and then failed to impress in Bahrain.
It looks as though a huge second-half of the season comeback may be needed to salvage their campaign.
Racing Bulls
Team Principal: Alan PermaneDrivers: Liam Lawson (14th) and Arvid Lindblad (rookie)Constructors’ result 2025: 6th2026 prediction: 7th
Another new driver line-up at Red Bull’s sister team leaves Liam Lawson as the experienced head in just his second full season on the grid.
Arvid Lindblad, 18, is as raw as they come after becoming the youngest race winner in F2 history in his only season in the feeder series last year.
The mood inside the team is said to be good and Lindblad has made a good impression early on – much of their success will depend on how he can challenge Lawson after the Kiwi showed his worth last season after being dropped back down from Red Bull.
Aston Martin
Team Principal: Adrian NeweyDrivers: Fernando Alonso (10th) and Lance Stroll (16th)Constructors’ result 2025: 7th2026 prediction: 10th
Aston Martin couldn’t have come out of Bahrain looking any worse. The new Honda-powered car was the slowest of the test session and completed the fewest laps.
This was not what billionaire owners Lawrence Stroll and new TP Adrian Newey had in mind. The full potential of the AMR26 won’t be unleashed until the powertrain issues are sorted – if they can be.
Until then, Newey’s latest design doesn’t have the tools to flourish. So much was built up for this year for the Silverstone team but instead 2026 is already looking like a testing year.
Haas
Team Principal: Ayao KomatsuDrivers: Oliver Bearman (13th) and Esteban Ocon (15th)Constructors’ result 2025: 8th2026 prediction: 5th
A vastly improved 2025 saw Haas cement themselves firmly in the middle pack and it was no surprise to see one of their cars, usually Oliver Bearman, making it into Q3.
Gene Haas’ team completed the second most laps at Bahrain and could well be fighting for early points as they appear to be ahead of their midfield rivals behind the big four.
Alpine
Team Principal: Flavio BriatoreDrivers: Pierre Gasly (18th) and Franco Colapinto (20th)Constructors’ result 2025: 10th2026 prediction: 6th
Last season was a complete write-off for Alpine as they came rock bottom of the standings.
The plan was obviously to build for the new regulations and attack this year, and the switch to a Mercedes power engine, which looks to be the most powerful early on, is a bright spark.
However, Franco Colapinto’s place leaves a lot to be desired after a dire 2025 having stepped into the car to replace Jack Doohan just six races into the season.
The Argentine will be under immense pressure to hit the ground running if the Enstone team are going to battle at the top of the midfield.
Audi
Team Principal: Jonathan WheatleyDrivers: Nico Hulkenberg (11th) and Gabriel Bortoleto (19th)Constructors’ result 2025: 9th (as Sauber)2026 prediction: 8th
Replacing Sauber, Audi are the grid’s newest works team and will come into the season in positive mood following a promising final year at Sauber where they outperformed much of the expectation – most notably Nico Hulkenberg’s first ever podium after 239 races at Silverstone.
The midfield looks to be a tightly packed bunch in 2026 and Audi will likely get stronger as the season continues.
Bahrain was positive for them, but they would have liked to enjoy more track time having completed the third fewest laps.
Cadillac
Team Principal: Graeme LowdonDrivers: Valtteri Bottas and Sergio PerezConstructors’ result 2025: First entry2026 prediction: 11th
The new team on the block, Cadillac are an unknown entity but ended Bahrain 10th in testing laps completed and best time, with only Aston Martin’s disaster below them.
Team boss Graeme Lowdon said the team’s main goal this year is to be respectable and the hugely experienced driver line-up points to a building year with two of the best brains in the sport at the wheel to help put the building blocks in place.
Drivers’ Standing prediction:
- George Russell
- Max Verstappen
- Lando Norris
- Charles Leclerc
- Kimi Antonelli
- Oscar Piastri
- Lewis Hamilton
- Isack Hadjar
- Oliver Bearman
- Pierre Gasly
- Liam Lawson
- Nico Hulkenberg
- Esteban Ocon
- Gabriel Bortoleto
- Carlos Sainz
- Fernando Alonso
- Alex Albon
- Arvid Lindblad
- Franco Colapinto
- Sergio Perez
- Valtteri Bottas
- Lance Stroll
