We predict Formulation 1's 2026 championship standings

Predicting Formulation 1 standings after 2026’s sweeping regulation adjustments initially seems simpler on the floor, as a result of on the larger gaps between the groups. Most observers agree there have been three tiers of groups in Bahrain, with a good hole in between them.

First up is the main pack of , , and Pink Bull, adopted by a midfield group of , Haas, , and . Lastly, Aston Martin and Cadillac appear to be they are going to be beginning the marketing campaign on the again foot.

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However Bahrain is simply an early, barely dependable snapshot of what’s going to be a gruelling 24-race, nine-month battle of attrition as the event race guarantees to be relentless, so our writers have additionally needed to bear in mind their confidence in groups with the ability to improve their automobiles mid-season.

Constructors: That is how we voted

Total

Ronald Vording

Jake Boxall-Legge

Filip Cleeren

1. Mercedes

Mercedes

2. Ferrari

Ferrari

McLaren

3. McLaren

McLaren

Ferrari

4. Pink Bull

Pink Bull

5. Alpine

Alpine

6. Haas

Haas

Williams

7. Racing Bulls

Racing Bulls

Haas

8. Williams

Williams

Racing Bulls

9. Audi

Audi

Aston Martin

10. Aston Martin

Aston Martin

Audi

11. Cadillac

Cadillac

Mercedes beats Ferrari and McLaren

Pound for pound, Mercedes has regarded the strongest outfit in Bahrain, courtesy of some ominous-looking lengthy runs on Pirelli’s medium tyres, and few observers we’ve got spoken to have doubted its place atop the pecking order as we head into Melbourne. If something, plenty of rival engineers and drivers suspect Mercedes has stored loads of power-unit efficiency within the pocket.

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George Russell, Mercedes

However aside from boasting a robust HPP powertrain, the W17 seems to be a well-born, good-handling automotive, fielded by a group that’s properly positioned to develop it. The one caveat is that the bulletproof reliability seen in Barcelona wasn’t fairly there anymore in Bahrain, leaving Kimi Antonelli quick on laps.

If Mercedes was a unanimous choose for prime spot, our opinions diverged right here. Ronald and Jake picked Ferrari as 2026’s runner-up; the Scuderia was demonstrably up there on the timesheets alongside Mercedes as one of many two quickest groups in Bahrain testing.

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Ferrari wasn’t solely quick and productive, but in addition confirmed off some eye-catching improvements over the second Bahrain take a look at, together with an exhaust winglet and . The latter is simply a take a look at merchandise for now and it isn’t clear how a lot efficiency every half actually provides. However what it does is show that Maranello has dared to innovate once more, and group boss Fred Vasseur’s requires Scuderia to be aggressive in its design have clearly not gone unanswered, which needs to be a great signal.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing

Nevertheless, Filip has as an alternative picked McLaren in second because the Woking squad has proven in recent times simply how efficient it may be at including efficiency to a automotive mid-season. McLaren seems to be set to start out the season battling Pink Bull for third. Pink Bull has been picked fourth by all our writers, however that group’s resurgence underneath group principal Laurent Mekies, led by four-time world champion , must also not be underestimated. Having mentioned that, Pink Bull does have the potential drawback of the comparatively inexperienced in its second seat whereas its direct rivals have can boast formidable driver pairings. In any case, the highest 4 battle in 2026 might be fascinating.

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Alpine to guide the midfield?

Proper now, the battle for better of the remainder seems to be prefer it may go any method. Alpine and Haas regarded significantly promising in Bahrain, with Racing Bulls and Williams in the identical bracket. Audi additionally moved up our estimation courtesy of some quickest quick and lengthy runs over the ultimate two days of winter testing because it will get on top of things with its brand-new energy unit.

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

However having sacrificed all of 2025 to start out this 12 months on the entrance foot, Alpine has come out on prime of our unanimous choose for fifth, boosted by its change to Mercedes energy models. Haas has been voted in sixth, though Filip is the odd man out once more by putting Williams two spots greater than his colleagues, backing the Grove group to make fast features by way of the season because it will get on the burden restrict.

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Racing Bulls would do properly to repeat its 2025 heroics by defending sixth, however our writers suppose seventh or eighth is extra seemingly.

How unhealthy will issues get for Aston Martin?

Audi has been pegged to ninth, which might be a decent sufficient end result for a group that has come out of a protracted interval of underinvestment, powered by the engine of a first-time producer. Whereas Filip believes Aston Martin could make sufficient enhancements following a disastrous testing marketing campaign to at the least have a go at Audi, Ronald and Jake do not share his confidence and have it down in an embarrassing tenth place, with .

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Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin

That leaves Cadillac as a unanimous choose for final on the grid as F1’s first enlargement group in a decade. The American-owned squad is aiming for respectability in 12 months one and, on the premise of winter testing, it’s on observe to attain that.

Drivers: That is how we voted

Total

Ronald Vording

Jake Boxall-Legge

Filip Cleeren

George Russell

Charles Leclerc

Max Verstappen

Kimi Antonelli

Lando Norris

4. Max Verstappen

Lando Norris

Max Verstappen

Oscar Piastri

Max Verstappen

Oscar Piastri

Kimi Antonelli

Oscar Piastri

Lewis Hamilton

7. Kimi Antonelli

Lewis Hamilton

Kimi Antonelli

8. Isack Hadjar

Isack Hadjar

Pierre Gasly

10.

Oliver Bearman

Is 2026 lastly George Russell’s 12 months?

After witnessing McLaren propelling Lando Norris to dizzying heights in 2025, now it’s George Russell’s flip to do what each F1 driver goals to attain as soon as of their careers: being in the correct place on the proper time. Few folks will disagree with the notion that Russell has been one of many excellent drivers of the 2025 F1 season after fine-tuning his craft over a largely irritating and patience-testing spell with Mercedes. And there may be now sufficient proof that with a profitable automotive, the Briton can go all the best way.

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George Russell, Mercedes W17

In addition to Russell, Charles Leclerc is a unanimous choose for second by way of a mixture of Russell’s team-mate Kimi Antonelli’s inexperience and our religion in Ferrari to lastly get it proper. Leclerc is one other world-class driver who went by way of a protracted interval of Ferrari heartbreak and not using a automotive befitting his expertise, however the indicators are there that 2026 might be totally different.

We could not agree in any respect on our picks for third. Jake clearly believes Mercedes will probably be a step forward in 2026 and has seen sufficient from Antonelli’s maiden marketing campaign to raise him to 3rd, whereas the younger Italian options in neither Ronald’s nor Filip’s prime 5.

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Regardless of putting Pink Bull fourth, Ronald has gone for the inevitable Max Verstappen to remain within the mixture of the drivers’ championship. Filip backed McLaren to pip Ferrari by the top in Abu Dhabi and in consequence he has additionally positioned a McLaren driver in third – defending champion Lando Norris.

Will our writers look again on these very early 2026 predictions with pleasure or disgrace in 9 months’ time? Given the uncertainty over the brand new laws, it may go both method. And that is precisely why F1 2026 will probably be so fascinating to observe.

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