Predicting Components 1 standings after 2026’s sweeping regulation modifications 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 an honest hole in between them.
First up is the main pack of Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Pink Bull, adopted by a midfield group of Alpine, Haas, Racing Bulls, Williams and Audi. Lastly, Aston Martin and Cadillac appear to be they are going to be beginning the marketing campaign on the again foot.
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 keep in mind their confidence in groups having the ability to improve their automobiles mid-season.
Constructors: That is how we voted
General
Ronald Vording
Jake Boxall-Legge
Filip Cleeren
1. Mercedes
Mercedes
Mercedes
Mercedes
2. Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari
McLaren
3. McLaren
McLaren
McLaren
Ferrari
4. Pink Bull
Pink Bull
Pink Bull
Pink Bull
5. Alpine
Alpine
Alpine
Alpine
6. Haas
Haas
Haas
Williams
7. Racing Bulls
Racing Bulls
Racing Bulls
Haas
8. Williams
Williams
Williams
Racing Bulls
9. Audi
Audi
Audi
Aston Martin
10. Aston Martin
Aston Martin
Aston Martin
Audi
11. Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac
Mercedes beats Ferrari and McLaren
Pound for pound, Mercedes has appeared the strongest outfit in Bahrain, courtesy of some ominous-looking lengthy runs on Pirelli’s medium tyres, and few observers we’ve spoken to have doubted its place atop the pecking order as we head into Melbourne. If something, lots of rival engineers and drivers suspect Mercedes has stored loads of power-unit efficiency within the pocket.
George Russell, Mercedes
Picture by: Alastair Staley / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
However apart from boasting a robust HPP powertrain, the W17 appears to be like a well-born, good-handling automotive, fielded by a staff 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 decide for high 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.
Ferrari wasn’t solely quick and productive, but in addition confirmed off some eye-catching improvements over the second Bahrain check, together with an exhaust winglet and a completely rotating rear wing mainplane. The latter is just a check 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 staff boss Fred Vasseur’s requires Scuderia to be aggressive in its design have clearly not gone unanswered, which ought to be a very good signal.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Isack Hadjar, Pink Bull Racing
Picture by: Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Nonetheless, 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 appears to be like set to start out the season battling Pink Bull for third. Pink Bull has been picked fourth by all our writers, however that staff’s resurgence below staff principal Laurent Mekies, led by four-time world champion Max Verstappen, also needs to not be underestimated. Having mentioned that, Pink Bull does have the potential drawback of the comparatively inexperienced Isack Hadjar 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.
Alpine to steer the midfield?
Proper now, the battle for better of the remaining appears to be like prefer it might go any means. Alpine and Haas appeared 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 up to the mark with its brand-new energy unit.
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Picture by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
However having sacrificed all of 2025 to start out this yr on the entrance foot, Alpine has come out on high of our unanimous decide for fifth, boosted by its change to Mercedes energy items. Haas has been voted in sixth, though Filip is the odd man out once more by inserting Williams two spots greater than his colleagues, backing the Grove staff to make speedy positive factors via the season because it will get on the load restrict.
Racing Bulls would do properly to repeat its 2025 heroics by defending sixth, however our writers suppose seventh or eighth is extra probably.
How unhealthy will issues get for Aston Martin?
Audi has been pegged to ninth, which might be a good sufficient consequence for a staff 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 a minimum of have a go at Audi, Ronald and Jake do not share his confidence and have it down in an embarrassing tenth place, with Honda’s energy unit woes unlikely to be solved within the quick time period.
Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin
Picture by: Kym Illman / Getty Pictures
That leaves Cadillac as a unanimous decide for final on the grid as F1’s first enlargement staff in a decade. The American-owned squad is aiming for respectability in yr one and, on the premise of winter testing, it’s on monitor to realize that.
Drivers: That is how we voted
General
Ronald Vording
Jake Boxall-Legge
Filip Cleeren
1. George Russell
George Russell
George Russell
George Russell
2. Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc
3. Lando Norris
Max Verstappen
Kimi Antonelli
Lando Norris
4. Max Verstappen
Lando Norris
Lando Norris
Max Verstappen
5. Oscar Piastri
Oscar Piastri
Max Verstappen
Oscar Piastri
6. Lewis Hamilton
Kimi Antonelli
Oscar Piastri
Lewis Hamilton
7. Kimi Antonelli
Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton
Kimi Antonelli
8. Isack Hadjar
Isack Hadjar
Isack Hadjar
Isack Hadjar
9. Pierre Gasly
Pierre Gasly
Pierre Gasly
Pierre Gasly
10. Oliver Bearman
Oliver Bearman
Oliver Bearman
Alex Albon
Is 2026 lastly George Russell’s yr?
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 realize as soon as of their careers: being in the precise 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’s now sufficient proof that with a profitable automotive, the Briton can go all the best way.
George Russell, Mercedes W17
Picture by: Mercedes AMG
In addition to Russell, Charles Leclerc is a unanimous decide for second via a mix 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 via a protracted interval of Ferrari heartbreak with out a automotive befitting his expertise, however the indicators are there that 2026 might be completely different.
We could not agree in any respect on our picks for third. Jake clearly believes Mercedes will likely 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 high 5.
Regardless of inserting 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 might go both means. And that is precisely why F1 2026 will likely be so fascinating to observe.
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