Formula 1 prepares to launch a transformative 2026 season featuring radical regulation changes, a new engine formula and the arrival of an 11th team ahead of the opener in Australia.
Radical technical overhaul explained
The sport is stepping into the unknown with the most significant technical overhaul in its history.
Power units, chassis design, tyres and fuel specifications have all been revised for the campaign starting in Melbourne on 6 March.
Cars have been designed to be smaller and more environmentally friendly.
The new power units feature a near 50-50 split between electric and internal combustion power, utilizing fully sustainable fuels.
However, concerns have been raised regarding the significant degree of energy management now required from competitors.
Active aerodynamics replace DRS
The Drag Reduction System (DRS), a staple of overtaking for over a decade, has been removed from the regulations.
It is replaced by a new ‘overtake mode’, which provides drivers with a burst of extra electric energy when running within one second of a rival.
This shift is necessitated by the introduction of active aerodynamics.
Front and rear wings will now adjust angles on straights to reduce drag, before increasing downforce again for cornering.
Ferrari attracted attention during pre-season testing with a rotating ‘upside down’ rear wing configuration when their car’s straight-line mode was activated.
Verstappen and Hamilton question complexity
Paddock reaction to the new regulations was mixed following six days of testing in Bahrain.
Max Verstappen expressed scepticism regarding the driving style required by the new power units.
They are like Formula E on steroids.
Max Verstappen, four-time world champion
Lewis Hamilton also highlighted the challenges posed by the regulations, though he admitted the new machinery offered an engaging driving experience.
The new rules make F1 ridiculously complex, [but the cars are] more fun to drive.
Lewis Hamilton, seven-time world champion
Lindblad flies the flag for Britain
Arvid Lindblad stands out as the sole rookie driver on the grid for the upcoming season.
The British teenager has secured a seat alongside Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls.
Lindblad, who has a Swedish father and a mother of Indian descent, previously made history as the youngest winner in Formula 2.
He will be 18 years and seven months old on race day in Australia.
This makes him the fourth youngest driver in the sport’s history, trailing only Verstappen, Lance Stroll and Kimi Antonelli.
Madrid joins calendar for Spanish double
Formula 1 will stage its own version of ‘El Clasico’ as Madrid joins Barcelona on the schedule.
The Spanish Grand Prix moves to the capital from 11-13 September at the ‘Madring’.
This new venue is a purpose-built track featuring 22 corners, utilizing a combination of public roads and private land.
Barcelona remains on the calendar for 2026 under the new title of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
The Catalan circuit will subsequently enter an alternating arrangement with Belgium’s historic Spa-Francorchamps track in future seasons.
Formula 1’s revolutionary new era of regulations begins at the Australian Grand Prix this weekend as teams prepare for the unknown in Melbourne.
The sport undergoes the most extensive technical overhaul in its history as the lights go out for the season opener at Albert Park on Sunday.
Revisions to aerodynamics and power units have created significant challenges for engineers and drivers alike ahead of the 24-race campaign.
A sense of uncertainty permeates the paddock, with competitors unsure of the true pecking order.
Engine overhaul creates uncertainty
The 2026 regulations feature a near-equal split between internal combustion and electrical power for the first time.
Constructors have had just nine days of pre-season running to master their all-new challengers.
Much remains to be learned regarding energy deployment, placing new tactical demands on those in the cockpit.
‘A dramatic change’
Broadcaster and former F1 driver Martin Brundle believes the grid faces a chaotic opening to the championship.
“It’s a dramatic change, the biggest ever in Formula 1, and we’re right at the very beginning of it,” said Brundle.
“Teams have got to find ways of replenishing the battery and for it to not dominate the lap so much, but I think they’ll quite quickly do that and migrate together in terms of how they want to charge and use their power.”
“But, in the beginning, it’s going to be slightly wild.”
Reliability concerns return
The increased complexity of the power units has raised fears regarding mechanical failures.
Modern Formula 1 cars have been historically durable in recent years, but that trend may be about to break.
“We’re going to get unreliability as well, much more than we’ve seen in the last few years, when the last hybrid engines became bulletproof, really, and so did the cars,” added Brundle.
“I think you’ll not think you have won a grand prix until you literally see the chequered flag.”
The fight at the front
Despite the regulatory upheaval, the hierarchy from the previous generation appears to have carried over.
McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari remain the clear frontrunners based on testing data.
While the ‘big four’ have seemingly extended their gap to the midfield, placing the leading quartet in a definitive order remains difficult.
However, the field is expected to be more competitive than the start of the 2014 hybrid era, where Mercedes held a distinct advantage over floundering rivals.
Tyler Reddick has become the first driver in NASCAR Cup Series history to win the opening three races of a season after driving to victory at the Circuit of the Americas.
The 23XI Racing driver continued his flawless start to the campaign by holding off Shane van Gisbergen in Austin, Texas.
Driving a Toyota co-owned by basketball icon Michael Jordan, he added the road course triumph to earlier successes at the Daytona 500 and Atlanta.
Reddick converted his pole position into a win, crossing the line ahead of the field to secure his 11th career victory.
Holding off the road course specialist
It was far from a comfortable afternoon for the championship leader, who faced intense pressure from Trackhouse Racing’s Van Gisbergen.
The New Zealander, widely regarded as the series’ dominant force on road circuits, sat on Reddick’s bumper for much of the final stage.
However, the 23XI pilot managed to keep the challengers at bay over the final 20 laps.
Van Gisbergen, who won five of six road races in 2025, eventually faded in the closing six laps to lose his bid for a record-tying sixth consecutive victory on this track type.
It marks Reddick’s second win at the Formula 1-grade circuit, having previously lifted the trophy there in 2023.
NBA Hall of Famer Jordan was present on pit road to exchange high-fives with the crew as his car crossed the finish line.
Drama down the field
While Reddick made history at the front, Connor Zilisch endured a difficult weekend.
After qualifying in a lowly 25th position, Zilisch’s race was compromised when he spun on the restart for stage two.
Despite fighting back into contention, he was spun again during a caution restart with 16 laps remaining, eventually finishing 14th.
Elsewhere, a Hendrick Motorsports driver was forced to retire from the race with approximately 20 laps to go due to illness.
He was replaced mid-race by Myatt Snider, who had been working as a pit spotter for the Fox broadcast team and had to scramble into a race suit.
Brad Keselowski managed to complete the event in 20th place despite racing with a broken leg.
The RFK Racing owner-driver had reserve pilot Joey Hand on standby but managed to endure the physical strain of the technical road course.
The series returns to oval racing at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, 8 March.
Marco Bezzecchi produced a flawless ride to win the season-opening Thailand MotoGP, while defending champion Marc Marquez was forced to retire in the closing stages.
The Aprilia rider converted his pole position into a commanding victory, crossing the line more than five seconds clear of the field.
KTM’s Pedro Acosta secured second place to follow up his sprint race victory on Saturday, with compatriot Raul Fernandez completing the podium for Trackhouse.
Redemption for Bezzecchi
It marked a significant turnaround for the Italian, who had crashed out of the sprint race on the second lap just 24 hours earlier.
Bezzecchi controlled proceedings from the front, continuing a rich vein of form that saw him dominate all three practice sessions and set a new track record in qualifying.
“Yesterday was a small mistake with a big consequence, so it was important today to try to bounce back,” Bezzecchi said.
“My pace was good with the medium [rear tyre], we worked super well all weekend, so I knew that I could be fast if I was in front. So I tried my all to make a good start and the bike was perfect.”
The result means the 27-year-old has now won three consecutive grand prix races, having triumphed in the final two rounds of the 2025 campaign.
Marquez’s title defence stalls
While Bezzecchi celebrated, it was a frustrating afternoon for Marc Marquez, who is chasing a record-equalling eighth premier class title this season.
The Ducati rider was running in fourth and closing in on the podium places before suffering a tyre puncture with just five laps remaining.
Marquez had run wide moments earlier, damaging his tyre and ending his hopes of salvaging points from the opener.
The Spaniard had admitted earlier in the week that he is still recovering from a shoulder injury which sidelined him for the conclusion of last season.
Martin misses podium
Bezzecchi’s team-mate and 2024 champion Jorge Martin finished fourth, unable to match the leader’s pace.
Trackhouse rider Ai Ogura rounded out the top five, putting two American-owned bikes in the top positions.
Elsewhere, last year’s runner-up Alex Marquez failed to finish following a late crash.
Two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia endured a difficult start to his campaign, crossing the line in ninth place.
Michael Schumacher continues his recovery away from the public eye 13 years after suffering a severe brain injury during a skiing accident in the French Alps.
The seven-time world champion has not been seen publicly since the life-changing incident occurred in Méribel on 29 December 2013.
His family has maintained strict privacy protocols to protect the German racing legend during his long rehabilitation process.
Here is a timeline of key developments surrounding his condition over the past decade.
Emergency surgery and waking process
The Ferrari icon was placed in an induced coma immediately following the accident to reduce intracranial pressure.
Medical staff at Grenoble Hospital performed emergency surgery before initiating a gradual waking process in early 2014.
By September of that year, Schumacher was discharged from the facility to continue his rehabilitation at the family home on the shores of Lake Geneva.
Manager Sabine Kehm cautioned at the time that the road to recovery would be long given the severity of the head trauma.
Legal clarifications on mobility
Reports regarding the 55-year-old’s mobility have frequently been subject to legal scrutiny and correction.
A lawyer for the family confirmed in court proceedings during 2016 that Schumacher could not walk, contradicting earlier claims made by a German magazine.
This legal intervention highlighted the family’s determination to prevent misleading medical information from circulating.
French media later reported in 2019 that the former driver had been admitted to a Paris hospital for stem cell treatment under a leading surgeon.
Insight from close allies
Former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt has remained one of the few sources of verified updates regarding his close friend.
Todt revealed he has watched Formula 1 races on television with the ex-Jordan and Benetton driver.
He emphasised that while the situation remains difficult, Schumacher is “still fighting” alongside his medical team.
The former FIA president also noted that Schumacher was able to follow the progress of his son, Mick, as he entered the sport.
Netflix documentary revelations
The 2021 documentary Schumacher offered a rare, sanctioned glimpse into the family’s life since the accident.
His wife, Corinna, provided an emotional update on her husband’s condition during the film.
She said:
“Michael is here, but he’s different. He shows me how strong he is every day.”
The family continues to support the “Keep Fighting Foundation,” a charitable initiative launched to inspire others facing adversity.
Pirelli have cancelled a scheduled two-day Formula 1 tyre test in Bahrain due to security concerns following US military strikes on Iran and subsequent regional tension.
Security concerns halt running
The Italian manufacturer was due to conduct wet-weather compound testing with Mercedes and McLaren at the Sakhir circuit.
However, the session has been abandoned after reports of missile strikes targeting facilities near the Bahraini capital, Manama.
The city is situated approximately 30km from the Bahrain International Circuit, prompting immediate safety precautions for all travelling team personnel.
US President Donald Trump confirmed military operations had been initiated, with explosions reported across Iran.
In response, Iranian forces have reportedly launched retaliatory strikes against US assets in the Gulf region.
Personnel safety priority
Pirelli confirmed that all staff currently in the country are safe and confined to their hotels while travel arrangements are made.
A spokesperson for the tyre supplier said: "The two days of development tests for wet-weather compounds, scheduled for today and tomorrow at the Bahrain International Circuit, have been cancelled for security reasons following the evolving international situation."
They added: "The company is working to ensure their safety and arrange their return to Italy and the UK as soon as possible."
Impact on season preparations
Mercedes reserve driver Frederik Vesti had been scheduled to participate in the test session.
The Danish junior, who notably stepped in for Lewis Hamilton during a practice session at the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, will no longer take to the track this week.
Reports suggest that F1 teams are now reviewing travel logistics for the upcoming season opener in Australia.
Many personnel typically transit through Gulf hubs such as Dubai and Doha to reach Melbourne, a route that may now be reconsidered.
The FIA and Formula 1 Management are monitoring the situation closely, with the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix currently scheduled for April.
Formula 1 Management stated: "Our next three races are in Australia, China and Japan."
The FIA has confirmed a mid-season rule change to Formula 1’s power unit regulations, introducing a new test from June to resolve a dispute over engine compression ratios.
Closing the regulation loophole
Rival teams had raised concerns during pre-season testing that Mercedes may have found a way to bypass specific limits within the sport’s extensive 2026 regulation overhaul.
Competitors suggested the Silver Arrows were exploiting a grey area regarding how engine compression is measured when the power unit is not running at full temperature.
Under the new ruleset for the 2026 campaign, the compression ratio limit was lowered from 18.0 to 16.0.
Current protocols only measure this parameter while the engine is cold, a method rivals believed offered the German manufacturer a competitive advantage.
However, the sport’s governing body has now moved to update the technical regulations following the season-opening rounds.
New testing procedures
A new test will be implemented from 1 June, ensuring compliance is checked when the engine ambient temperature is at 130 degrees.
This change will come into force after the seventh race of the season, affecting the remaining 17 rounds of the calendar.
From 2027 onwards, these checks will be conducted exclusively in operating conditions of 130 degrees.
Unanimous manufacturer approval
The FIA stated that “some aspects of the amendments were concurrently approved unanimously” by the sport’s power unit manufacturers.
The grid’s current engine suppliers include Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull-Ford, Audi, and Honda.
In a statement, the governing body acknowledged the need for a compromise following extensive feedback from testing in Barcelona and Bahrain.
“A significant effort has been invested in finding a solution to the topic of the compression ratio,” the FIA said.
“The FIA has worked to find a compromise solution which determines that the compression ratio will be controlled in both hot and cold conditions from June 1 2026.”
The organization added that further evaluation and technical checks regarding energy management are ongoing.
Two-time champion Will Power makes his debut for Andretti Global on Sunday as the 2026 IndyCar season begins on the streets of St Petersburg.
The Australian veteran has ended a defining 17-year association with Team Penske to join their rivals.
It marks the headline move of the offseason, with the 2018 Indianapolis 500 winner taking a seat vacated by Colton Herta.
A fresh start for Power
Power turns 45 on race day, marking the start of a new chapter comparable to Fernando Alonso’s late-career switch to Aston Martin.
The Toowoomba-born driver felt viewed as a “devalued commodity” during the final year of his previous contract.
Instead of a short-term fix, he has secured a fresh three-year deal negotiated by Alonso’s management firm, A14.
“I sat down with [his manager] while we were talking at the beginning of ’25 and we said that the best-case scenario was having a spot at Andretti, because I felt like it’s going to become the best team,” Power said.
“They’ve got all the ingredients there. So it’s funny that it worked out the way it has.”
The Penske departure
The switch was facilitated by Herta’s departure to pursue Formula 2 racing and Formula 1 testing with Cadillac.
Power admitted that options were limited until the seat at Andretti Global became available late in the year.
He had been waiting for former team owner Roger Penske to decide on his future.
“Honestly, in the middle of the year, if Roger just offered me a one-year deal, yeah, we would have taken it, because there was no seat to be had,” Power explained.
Despite a difficult 2025 campaign, the veteran remains the sport’s all-time pole position record holder.
He was also the first driver to secure a win for Penske last season, taking victory at Portland.
Chasing history and redemption
While Power seeks reclamation, the 2026 grid features other major narratives for the 1.8-mile street course opener.
Former Formula 1 driver Mick Schumacher arrives in the United States looking to rehabilitate his career in open-wheel racing.
Meanwhile, Spanish star Álex Palou begins his quest for further history as he attempts to solidify his status among the series’ all-time greats.