is three grands prix and one dash race into its new period, the place electrical energy is king. The order has been shaken up and while some groups have risen to the highest, others are plunging to new depths.
Telegraph Sport sifted by way of the information and ranked the groups based on expectations, additionally contemplating their progress from final yr to this yr.
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The metrics used are factors per grand prix and a “uncooked tempo score”, which is a mean calculated from every staff’s quickest qualifying lap, relative to the general quickest. For example, a 1min 40sec pole lap could be written as 100 per cent, a 1min 41sec lap could be 101 per cent, a 1min 41.5sec lap 101.5 per cent and so forth.
11. Aston Martin
2025 factors per grand prix (PPGP): 3.32026 PPGP: 02025 uncooked tempo score (RPR): 101.105% (seventh)
2026 RPR: 104.054% (tenth)
Aston Martin’s begin to the 2026 F1 season has not put a smile on staff principal Adrian Newey’s face – Martin Preserve/Getty Pictures
Aston Martin had many causes for optimism right now final yr. Adrian Newey was overseeing their 2026 automotive they usually had been beginning a brand new relationship with Honda as a works staff. Additionally they had one of many best and most skilled drivers on the grid: Fernando Alonso. But as an alternative of preventing Mercedes, they’re battling Cadillac to keep away from being the slowest automotive. It’s to an F1 season in current reminiscence.
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For a staff that has invested a lot, the performances have been inexcusable. Extreme vibrations have hampered their automotive, battery, and drivers. Alonso’s 18th at Suzuka was their first grand prix end from a attainable six. They’ll certainly enhance as soon as they deal with their largest downside, however the fear must be how entrenched their different points are.
10. Williams
2025 PPGP: 5.22026 PPGP: 0.72025 RPR: 100.931% (fifth)
2026 RPR: 102.651% (ninth)
Carlos Sainz’s two factors in China was one bit of excellent information for Williams – Simon Galloway/Lat Pictures
As with Aston Martin, expectations had been excessive at Williams on the finish of final season. Their 137 factors and fifth place within the standings – with two podiums – was their strongest season since 2016. Higher nonetheless, they stopped in-season improvement on their 2025 automotive to deal with the 2026 mannequin.
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How has that turned out? Nicely, they missed the primary check in Barcelona, producing a automotive that’s considerably obese and tough to drive. From being the fifth quickest staff in qualifying final yr, they now rank ninth. The excellent news is that Carlos Sainz managed to and that they don’t seem to be terribly adrift of the midfield leaders equivalent to Haas and Racing Bulls on one-lap tempo.
9. Crimson Bull
2025 PPGP: 17.12026 PPGP: 5.32025 RPR: 100.393% (2nd)
2026 RPR: 101.123% (4th)
Crimson Bull have struggled to bounce again from a lacklustre 2025 season – Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Pictures
Crimson Bull had their struggles in 2025, however turned issues round sufficient for Max Verstappen to complete inside two factors of champion Lando Norris. Their begin to the brand new laws cycle has been terrible. The drivers lack confidence within the inconsistent RB22 and though the RBPT energy unit is new, the chassis seems to be a much bigger downside.
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The staff sits simply two factors forward of Racing Bulls and the primary staff are extra deserving of their place within the midfield than within the “massive 4”. Throw into the combination that Verstappen seems disgruntled and seems to be and the long run seems much more regarding.
8. Cadillac
2026 PPGP: 02026 RPR: 104.243% (eleventh)
Cadillac, with drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, would have had few expectations of their debut season – Mark Sutton/Getty Pictures
Aston Martin, Williams and Crimson Bull are ranked so lowly as a result of they’ve failed to satisfy expectations. What expectations did Cadillac have coming into the game at the beginning of a brand new laws cycle? The staff deserves credit score for constructing and working a automotive that appears pretty dependable (comparatively) and never embarrassingly gradual, as the brand new groups in 2010 had been.
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But Cadillac’s displaying of their first few races seems higher due to how poor Aston Martin have been. The brand new American outfit lead them within the standings and are solely 0.2 per cent slower on common in qualifying. The bounce to the following finest staff in races and qualifying is gigantic, although. Williams, in ninth, have scored two factors and are almost 1.6 per cent quicker than them in qualifying on common. That equates to 1.44sec on a typical 90-second lap. That may be a chasm that won’t be simple to bridge.
7. Audi
2025 PPGP*: 2.92026 PPGP: 0.72025 RPR*: 101.502% (tenth)
2026 RPR: 101.645% (sixth)
*As Sauber
Audi have made a decent begin to the post-Sauber period – Issei Kato/Reuters
Audi are the primary staff within the “so-so” relatively than “so dangerous” class. They’re a brand new staff however not new like Cadillac, because the German producer morphed into its personal entity after taking on Sauber. That stated, they do no less than make their very own energy unit, whereas Cadillac take Ferrari’s.
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General, the staff have returned respectable qualifying outcomes because the sixth quickest staff, simply behind Alpine, however have didn’t ship any factors since Gabriel Bortoleto’s ninth in Australia. A part of that has been all the way down to their poor efficiency off the road. Their reliability has additionally been troubling, with two non-starts and one non-finish. Main the midfield could be a suitable goal; they don’t seem to be too far-off from that.
6. McLaren
2025 PPGP: 32.32026 PPGP: 12.72025 RPR: 100.074% (1st)
2026 RPR: 100.675% (third)
Oscar Piastri (left), pictured alongside team-mate Lando Norris, completed second in Suzuka to place a extra constructive spin on McLaren’s begin to the season – Hollie Adams/Reuters
The defending constructors’ and drivers’ champions would have been just a few locations decrease than sixth on this checklist had been it not for a robust displaying in Suzuka. Earlier than final weekend had not began a grand prix and he and Lando Norris didn’t take the grid for the Chinese language Grand Prix. Their general tempo over the shorter and longer runs was worrying, too.
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Suzuka modifications the outlook somewhat. Not solely did they push Mercedes on Sunday – Piastri might need received had been it not for the security automotive – however they had been quicker than Ferrari throughout the weekend, too. After all that is nonetheless a major drop from 2024 and 2025, and the chassis nonetheless wants work, however the indicators counsel that they’re beginning to perceive the Mercedes energy unit higher.
5. Racing Bulls
2025 PPGP: 3.72026 PPGP: 4.02025 RPR: 100.954% (sixth)
2026 RPR: 101.732% (seventh)
Arvid Lindblad has impressed in his debut season in Components 1 – Issei Kato/Reuters
Racing Bulls are one of many few groups who’ve began this yr nearly precisely how they completed final yr. The Crimson Bull sister staff loved a robust 2025, ending sixth with 92 factors, albeit 45 factors adrift of Williams in fifth. In the intervening time they’re on track to repeat that complete.
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It has been a promising begin to 2026. has instantly checked out residence and the staff have scored factors in every of the three grands prix and one dash. They’re within the combine to compete for the best-of-the-rest spot alongside Haas and Alpine, assuming Crimson Bull get their act collectively. As with final yr, the automotive seems extra benign than the Crimson Bull and has proven spectacular prime pace.
4. Haas
2025 PPGP: 3.02026 PPGP: 5.72025 RPR: 101.470% (ninth)
2026 RPR: 101.746% (eighth)
Ollie Bearman completed fifth in China after inserting seventh on the season-opening Australian Grand Prix – Clive Mason/Getty Pictures
Haas completed 2025 in eighth, however had been solely a handful of factors off ending sixth (and two forward of ninth), which reveals how tight the midfield battle was. That doesn’t appear to have modified a lot this season, however there are the explanation why Haas stand out above Racing Bulls. Their qualifying tempo solely places them eighth this yr, however sturdy races from Ollie Bearman means they’re fourth on outcomes.
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It’s a step ahead, however not a bounce. With McLaren again on kind, the larger factors hauls may be more durable to come back by, however a practical goal for the staff with the smallest finances on the grid is fifth. That may be their finest end since 2018.
3. Ferrari
2025 PPGP: 15.02026 PPGP: 25.72025 RPR: 100.621% (4th)
2026 RPR: 100.668% (2nd)
Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, are nearly precisely the place they had been final season – Mark Sutton/Getty Pictures
It was a tricky 2025 for Ferrari, ending fourth within the standings behind Crimson Bull, who had been primarily a one-car staff. Their energy unit seems to supply one thing completely different from the Mercedes, which seems to have helped them off the road and within the opening laps. Charles Leclerc usually extracts the most effective from what he’s given however Lewis Hamilton is way happier within the SF-26.
Up to now they common 25.7 factors per race, in comparison with 15 final season. In qualifying everybody bar Mercedes are effectively down on their 2025 benchmark instances relative to the quickest general time (full desk on the backside of this text), however Ferrari are nearly precisely the place they had been final season. In an odd method that’s sturdy progress. The large query mark, like for everybody else, is whether or not they problem Mercedes additional or are challenged themselves from behind.
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2. Alpine
2025 PPGP: 0.82026 PPGP: 4.32025 RPR: 101.346% (eighth)
2026 RPR: 101.478% (fifth)
Alpine regarded to have benefited from the Renault-to-Mercedes energy unit swap – Clive Mason/Getty Pictures
It’s tough to overstate what a large number Alpine had been final season. Backside of the desk with simply 22 factors from 24 rounds, and 48 factors adrift of the staff forward. They’re probably the most positively remodeled staff on the grid this season, already reaching 16 factors, primarily from Pierre Gasly.
In qualifying they’re the fifth-fastest staff, with Gasly particularly producing some eye-catching outcomes, as he did final time period. After a tough begin in Melbourne, the Frenchman has certified seventh 3 times in a row, returning respectable factors from sturdy grid positions. The Mercedes energy unit is little question higher than the Renault of 2025, however these outcomes carry much-needed pleasure again to Enstone.
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1. Mercedes
2025 PPGP: 17.72026 PPGP: 41.02025 RPR: 100.459% (4th)
2026 RPR: 100.000% (1st)
Kimi Antonelli (left) and George Russell have picked up 135 factors from a attainable 144 – Philippe Nanchino/Icon Sport
How may or not it’s some other staff on the prime? After struggling in the course of the aerodynamic-focused ground-effect interval of 2022-25, Mercedes have returned to doing what they do finest: producing an engine that’s the class of the sphere. They’ve the benefit of understanding the complexities of how the battery works higher than their prospects, however their chassis is probably the strongest on the grid, too.
Up to now this has delivered them 135 factors from a attainable 144, with 4 front-row lockouts. On common they’re almost 0.7 per cent quicker than the next-best staff in qualifying. The race-winning margins – 15.5sec, 19.7sec and 13.7sec hole to the quickest non-Mercedes automotive – have been giant, too. The one areas of concern are the poor begins relative to their rivals (from first and second in Japan they dropped to fourth and sixth) and that their tempo benefit doesn’t so simply get them out of site visitors.
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