Preseason testing is over, and this should be an amazing F1 season this year.
The first Grand Prix of the season is in Australia, and from what was observed, viewers have a pretty good idea of who is ahead at the start of the season.
Ferrari has been the standout so far, and this could finally be the year that they get over the hump.
Ferrari has everything that they need to be champions from the drivers to the pit crew and management. The question is whether they finally built the car, and so far it looks like they have.
If the car is there for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, they are more than capable of bringing Ferrari their first constructors’ championship since 2008 and their first drivers’ championship since 2007.
Next is Mercedes, which has been labeled the favorite since early last year because of their engine.
This test showed great results for them, but they seemed a bit behind Ferrari. However, a lot of people think that Mercedes is sandbagging, which is a term used in F1 for teams hiding the true performance of their car.
Mercedes is known for doing this, but regardless of whether it is true or not, the Mercedes car is really good and at the front of the field, right next to Ferrari.
They also have Andrea “Kimi”Antonelli and George Russell who are two amazing drivers.
It’s only Antonelli’s second season, and that could hurt Mercedes in the constructors’ championship race, but Russell is primed for a World Drivers’ Championship push, and he might finally have the car to do it.
The reigning champion McLaren, with the Mercedes engine, is also right toward the top.
McLaren did not impress much in preseason, but that does not mean they were bad.
However, for a reigning world champion, the buzz that was expected was not there. They still have two great drivers in Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who are sure to stay competitive, but last year the team messed up a lot. This year, those mistakes could really hurt them because of the competitive field.
A dark horse could be Red Bull, who should never be counted out because they have Max Verstappen.
Their team also had a big change last year, changing team principles, and there was a late title push from Verstappen. Could that great leadership keep Red Bull around the title fight?
There are other teams that could see good race results, like Williams and Haas, who looked great at the test. Alpine also looked very good, but do not expect these teams to be competing for the championships. The 2026 Formula 1 season is only a week away from hearing lights out.
