The 2026 Formula One season has started in chaos, and has been nothing but full of unexpected turns of events. The wildest predictions may have come true within just the first races, full of DNFs, disappointments, and broken records.
This year’s season opener, the Australian GP, was a roller-coaster of emotions for everyone. Even before the weekend started, Aston Martin’s team revealed concern whether or not their car could finish all 58 laps. And for home town hero, Oscar Piastri, we were all hoping for a better race than last year. But unexpectedly, the Australian didn’t even start the race after crashing just before, making him unable to participate. So hopes were up for a better chance during the following weekend in Shanghai, but neither McLaren cars were able to start due to electrical issues. Tensions and jokes of Piastri’s lack of racing were not in short as the clock ticked down to the third race, Suzuka, where he thankfully, finally started a grand prix for the 2026 season. He made off with a great start, and despite an untimely safety car, managed to finish P2.
As expected, Mercedes has been the dominating team with a driver at the top step of every podium so far this year. This also includes the young Italian, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, achieving his first win at the second race of the season, making him the youngest race winner and pole-sitter in F1 history. And with many comparing his career to Ayrton Senna’s, he then did this the following grand prix. Meaning Kimi Antonelli is the youngest championship leader in F1 history, and the first Italian to lead the championship since Giancarlo Fisichella in 2005. So hopefully an Italian leading the F1 championship (as well as MotoGP and WorldSBK) can make up for Italy not making it into the World Cup for the third time in a row.
Ferrari has also gotten the hang of the new regulations, the drivers racing Mercedes and each other hard every weekend. Lewis Hamilton also achieved his first podium in a heartfelt moment in Shanghai. Ferrari has scored a podium each race this year, hopefully meaning we can see red on the top step some time this year.
While Suzuka was Piastri’s first race start, it was Fernando Alonso’s first race finish. Aston Martin have had many struggles with their car since pre-season testing, the condition being so bad as to potentially give the drivers nerve damage. People have been speculating if the rookie would choose to leave the sport due to his team’s situation, but Alonso has stated that he would not end his career on a bad note.
Though Alonso stated he is staying, we may lose 4-time world champion, Max Verstappen to the new regulations. Red Bull’s car has not been performing well, and is currently behind two midfield teams in the championship standings. Verstappen claimed that driving in F1 is no longer fun, especially for him at Suzuka, after staring at the back of Pierre Gasly’s Alpine for 30 laps, he went on to race in GT3 at the Nurburgring not even two days later. And while some other teams like Haas, Audi and Alpine are looking good, others like Cadillac and Williams or not.
As mentioned, a lot happened in just the third race at Suzuka this year, along with new controversy. The young Haas driver, Oliver Bearman, suffered a terrible crash of 50G that left him limping and unable to stand up by himself after he got out his car. The drivers warned the FIA, F1’s governing body, about this type of crash with the new regulations. Thankfully, Bearman sustained no major injuries, but drivers like Carlos Sainz have spoken up about why the FIA needs to take action before one of these crashes happens again with higher consequence. After the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GP were canceled, it leaves four weeks without F1. Hopefully, both the teams and FIA can take this time to adjust to or fix the regulations, and most importantly, that Ollie will rest up. So whatever changes may come, we will see them at the next race, the Miami Grand Prix.
