Six key storylines to follow in the 2026 F1 season

Will the new rules deliver the promised better racing?

F1 faces the biggest rules overhaul in its history, one that in an explainer of the new regulations, it stated that "these changes will shake up the order and create new excitement, while delivering incredible racing". That's quite the promise.

The cars will be smaller, lighter, with reduced downforce and drag, whilst there will also be active aerodynamics, with moveable front and rear wings, designed to aid overtaking, given the DRS [drag reduction system] has been axed.

Predominantly, there will be a 50/50 split between internal combustion and electric power, a simplified hybrid, as the MGU-H has been removed, whilst the power of the MGU-K has been increased for enhanced overtaking and straight-line speed. The cars will also run on 100% sustainable fuel.

As with any new regulation set, there is definitely the propensity for upset, entertainment, and, of course, a myriad of early issues and complaints from the drivers, especially. Let's hope it does, indeed, deliver.

Lando Norris v Oscar Piastri Pt II

Last season might not have led to the war waged by team-mates of the past  - McLaren's robust 'Papaya rules' saw to that - but the two drivers were still embroiled in their fare of controversy and spectacle.

Various team orders gave rise to suggestions of favouritism towards Norris, which were wholly disputed by the team, yet you could not ignore the radio complaints of Piastri on occasion, notably during the Italian and Singapore Grands Prix.

In the end, Piastri let his grip on the championship slip, whilst Norris seemingly discovered a way to control his inner demons that allowed him to claim his maiden drivers' title by just two points ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who staged an astonishing charge after the summer break.

Whilst there are no guarantees McLaren will maintain its dominance this year, given the above-mentioned regulations changes, the second chapter of the Norris v Piastri battle threatens to again captivate. 

Lewis Hamilton's final season in F1?

It was not the debut campaign with Ferrari that Lewis Hamilton would have envisaged before the start of the 2025 season.

If anything, it was a nightmare, as for the first time in the seven-time champion's 19-season F1 career, he finished the year without a grand prix podium. A quite staggering scenario.

Hamilton was, understandably, disconsolate as the season wore on, hindered by the fact that Ferrari had opted to curtail aerodynamic development on the SF-25 at the end of April as it knew, at that stage, it was not in the title hunt.

Hamilton revealed to sending dossiers to team principal Fred Vasseur of changes he felt were needed to turn him and the Scuderia into winners again.

In truth, that will depend on whether this year's car, under the new rules, plays to Hamilton's strengths, as it has been suggested will be the case. If not, could we be saying farewell at the end of the year to one of the all-time greats?  

Another new team-mate for Max Verstappen

After proving himself to be the rookie of the year in 2025, Isack Hadjar now faces the ultimate test in 2026, that of being the latest team-mate to Max Verstappen.

Following Hadjar's crash on the formation lap of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, he picked himself up, dusted himself down and proved himself to be a driver of considerable talent.

It was enough for Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies, and Helmut Marko, in one of his final acts after 20 years of service as an advisor before opting to bow out, to promote the French-Algerian and demote Yuki Tsunoda to the role of test and reserve driver.

But now Hadjar faces the acid test of his credentials, and to prove himself, where Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson, Tsunoda, and Sergio Perez, to a certain extent, all failed, alongside four-time champion Verstappen.

The new rules afford him a level playing field to a degree, as he will at least have some say in the early direction of the car and how he would like it to be developed, rather than it solely being catered to Verstappen's needs. He still faces an almighty task.

How will Adrian Newey fare as team principal at Aston Martin?

You sense it is now or never for Aston Martin. After years of staggering investment in infrastructure and personnel, and with a new regulatory set to pore over in the hands of F1's greatest designer, surely, grand prix wins and titles now beckon.

Following his arrival in May as managing technical partner, Newey spent the overwhelming majority of last year working on this season's car.

With 26 F1 titles to his name - 14 drivers' and 12 constructors' - this season represents a golden opportunity for the big-money signing to work his magic on a set of regulations seemingly perfect for him.

The surprise is that in late November, Aston Martin announced a change to its leadership structure, with Newey named its new team principal, a role, it is fair to suggest, that barely anyone in F1 would have bet on him becoming in his illustrious career.

Will it prove a distraction? Will it take him away from his beloved drawing board? Or will he prove to be an inspirational leader, as well as a staggering designer of title-winning F1 machinery?

The arrival of two automotive heavyweights

It is the heavily mentioned regulations that have attracted two powerhouses of the automotive industry - Audi and Cadillac - to F1.

Both teams start from very different positions. In making its first foray into F1, Audi at least can build on the base provided by its acquisition of Sauber, taking over the Swiss organisation's headquarters in Hinwil to design and build the chassis.

The new power unit, which attracted the German manufacturing giant to enter F1, has been built from scratch in a new factory in Neuberg, Germany. Despite such infancy, much will be expected of the four-rings brand.

In contrast, little is anticipated of Cadillac, which only 10 months ago was finally granted a licence to compete in F1 following a long, arduous process to become the sport's 11th team.

It will be operating out of numerous bases and has spent the past few months heavily recruiting to build up a workforce to get its cars on track, which will be in the hands of veterans Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.

It will at least have what you would anticipate to be reliable Ferrari power units to work with, but you would also expect its maiden campaign to be as tough as it gets.