F1 2026 season guide: Norris defends title as Red Bull take engine gamble
Lando Norris begins his defence of the Formula 1 World Championship as the 2026 season gets under way with Red Bull entering a bold new era of engine manufacturing.
The new campaign promises a renewed rivalry at the front of the grid.
While tribalism often dominates the grandstands, the 2026 field offers compelling narratives up and down the pit lane.
McLaren’s fight to stay on top
Under the leadership of Zak Brown, the Woking-based outfit has been rebuilt into a bold operation.
They enter the new season as the reigning constructors’ champions.
The team established a clear identity in 2025, prioritising fair racing even when the stakes were highest.
This conviction proved pivotal in their return to the summit of the sport.
Lando Norris
The Briton enters the new season as Formula 1’s newest world champion.
Despite his success, the 26-year-old continues to face scrutiny regarding his status among the sport’s all-time greats.
Watching Norris attempt to silence his remaining doubters will be a key theme of his championship defence.
Oscar Piastri
The Australian’s 2025 campaign ended in difficult fashion following a pivotal team order decision at Monza.
Piastri looked unstoppable for half of the previous year before his form dipped significantly.
He returns to the grid intent on settling unfinished business against his title-winning teammate.
Red Bull’s power unit revolution
The Milton Keynes squad has evolved from an energy drinks sponsor into a manufacturing powerhouse.
For 2026, the team has taken the significant gamble of building its own engine.
It is a move that could define their legacy as either a masterstroke or hubris.
Max Verstappen
The Dutchman continues to produce drives of exceptional quality.
His performances in 2025 demonstrated an ability to compete for victories regardless of his machinery’s dominance.
Verstappen remains the inevitable benchmark for raw performance on the grid.
Isack Hadjar
The French youngster is the latest driver tasked with the challenging role of partnering Verstappen.
Hadjar impressed with his rookie performances and brings significant self-belief to the second seat.
He aims to succeed where previous teammates have struggled in the high-pressure environment.
Ferrari’s search for glory
The Scuderia enters another season carrying the weight of a title drought dating back to 2008.
However, the Italian marquee has shown promising signs of speed ahead of the opener.
Tifosi around the world will be hoping this is finally the year the Maranello team changes the narrative.
