Five things about the 2026 F1 season

MELBOURNE – The Formula One season gets under way in Melbourne on March 8, with McLaren’s Lando Norris looking to retain his world championship title while Max Verstappen of Red Bull aims to rip it back off him.

Predictions are difficult to make ahead of the 24-race season because of sweeping changes in chassis and engine regulations. But the clash between the favourites could provide one of the most fascinating seasons yet.

Here are five things to look out for in the pit lane.

Gamesmanship

The fingers have been pointing, the accusations made – and nobody has stepped forward to admit that they were “sandbagging”. That is the pit lane parlance for dialling back on performance in pre-season testing, as Verstappen took aim at Mercedes.

“Just wait until Melbourne and see how much power they suddenly find... see how fast they suddenly go on all the straights,” said the four-time world champion in Bahrain.

Meanwhile, Williams boss James Vowles put the spotlight back on Red Bull, suggesting that “games are being played” when their pace suddenly slowed.

It is only normal to try and conceal an advantage before they line up in Melbourne, and this is just the first of the many rows which are bound to erupt during this first season under new rules.

Brand new Cadillac

Watch out, the Americans are coming. First it was Haas joining the grid in 2016 and now it is Cadillac, one of the most famous names in the auto industry.

The new boys, financed by General Motors, will be relying on experience in the cockpit, where Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will launch the team, as well as under the bonnet.

Cadillac will not be making their own power units until 2029 and have to rely on Ferrari until then.

“I firmly believe we’ve got a platform that, as a team, we can really start moving forward on,” said team principal Graeme Lowdon during pre-season.

The right profile

Another new team to look out for is Audi, who have a rich history in motor racing – having previously won Le Mans, the Dakar Rally and the World Rally Championship – but are dipping their toes in F1 waters for the first time.

The German team acquired the Sauber slot and have retained the driving skills of veteran Nico Hulkenberg, who finally got his first podium in 2025 at Silverstone after 15 years and 239 races, and 21-year-old Gabriel Bortoleto.

Audi had a good pre-season workout and may surprise a few, although team principal Jonathan Wheatley is making no promises.

“We have no illusions about the amount of work remaining or the level of competition we will face in Melbourne,” he said in Bahrain.

Fledgling

At 18 years and 212 days by the time the lights go on in Melbourne, Arvid Lindblad will become the fourth-youngest driver of all time to make his F1 debut behind Verstappen, Canadian Lance Stroll and Italian Kimi Antonelli.

The teenager, who will compete as a Briton but also has Swedish and Indian heritage through his parents, will be in the Racing Bulls seat with Liam Lawson.

He is the sole rookie on the grid this season but comes with pedigree: He won three races in Formula 2 in 2025 – two of them as a 17-year-old – and has been on Red Bull’s radar since he was 12.

“I’ve got a lot to learn. If I’m entirely ready, I don’t know,” he told F1 TV.

King of the road

At the other end of the age spectrum, Fernando Alonso, 44, and Lewis Hamilton, 41, may be duking it out for the last time in F1.

Alonso, who won both his world titles before Lindblad was born, is in the last year of his contract with Aston Martin, whose sputtering pre-season does not bode well.

Hamilton’s contract with Ferrari expires at the end of this season as well. The Briton had a terrible 2025 but is full of fight again as he seeks an eighth world title.

“I know what needs to be done. This is going to be one hell of a season!” he said in a post on Instagram. AFP