McLaren

McLaren start the 2026 season as the F1 Champions, and in Norris have the drivers World Champion. Last year they were consistent most of the season with Norris and Piastri both in contention up to the last race for the championship.

Using the Mercedes engine is again a good thing, especially as rumour suggests it is one of the best of the new era designs.

Last year questions were raised over the teams use of their so called 'Papaya' rules (fair racing between the drivers to the extreme). At times giving points away. Whilst the end result was good, it could also go wrong if they play it again this season.

However, there are no other reasons to doubt they will once again be fighting at the top.

Mercedes

2025 saw a big change for the silver arrows. Lewis Hamilton jumped ship to Ferrari and Mercedes were left wondering on a new direction. Russell found himself as team leader, and in came Antonelli the young gun that team principle Toto Wolff had high hopes for. Russell rose to the occasion and as the season progressed got stronger and stronger. Antonelli had a mixed season, starting well but with problems half way through, but overcome them and shone towards the end.

The team pushed upwards and the sparkle that saw them as past world champions started to shine again as they ended the year second in the championship.

The new engine would appear to be the one that other teams are worried about, so they are definitely championship contenders, as is Russell.

Red Bull

Max Verstapen has lost his crown.... be afraid, be very afraid! He will want it back! The McLaren's got the upper hand on him throughout the season until he was over 100 points behind Norris - he ended up just two points shy of being a five times champion! Isack Hadjar has been in F1 for just one season at Racing Bulls. He now starts in the coveted/poison chalice (you decide) Red Bull no.2 seat. He's good and has a calm head, but can he survive the Red Bull pressure that destroyed Perez, Lawson and Tsunoda over the past two seasons? 

The biggest question for Red Bull is the new engine. Gone are Honda, this season see's the arrival of Red Bull's own design power unit, in collaboration with Ford who have joined to assist the team. Rumours suggest they may have work to do and it's not as powerful as others. Time will tell.

Ferrari

Oh dear, just how many times can it go wrong for the red team, the oldest in F1. Many mistakes were made by the team last year, poor pit stops, bad strategy calls, miscommunications. And then there's the elephant in the room.... Lewis Hamilton. They dropped Carlos Sainz, and paid millions on millions to bring in multiple champion Hamilton, and it all went wrong. Having spent two dreadful years at Mercedes, this was meant to be the re-start, but it was the complete opposite! Leclerc out-shone him all season, apart from an early Sprint win. New rules, new cars. Difficult to believe it will carry on.

So this is crunch year for both Hamilton and Ferrari, they need to perform and they know it. Leclerc is in his last year of a very long contract. He's good, very good, so Ferrari will want to keep him, and they will want to put Hamilton back in his happy place.

Enginewise, it might be good. Rumours suggest they have a good'un.

Williams

It was a monster year for Williams in 2025. They signed Sainz when he was ditched by Ferrari, kept Albon (who is English but races under a Thai flag) and then kicked their heels in and went for it! from 2024's 9th place to 5th in the championship in 2025.

Both drivers are clearly happy with their lot, and Team Principle James Vowles is working some magic, and is well liked by all.

Once again they will be using the Mercedes engine and this year that could be a big advantage.

Although priced a lot higher than recent seasons, they could well be somewhat under-priced!

Aston Martin

A serious case of nobody knows here!! They have a lead driver (Alonso) who is the oldest on the grid by far and by rights, possibly, shouldn't be there, a second driver (Stroll) who is the bosses son who's been at the team since Dad took over and has achieved pretty much nothing. Not sounding good so far then....

.... enter 2026. They now have works team status as Honda are their new engine supplier, fresh from supplying those winning units to Red Bull, and it could be a good one. They not only have Adrian Newey the championship winning designer wherever he goes with his first car for the team, they also made him Team Principle!

As I said, nobody knows! Flip a coin!!