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McLaren
Car MCL39 Engine Mercedes Principal Andrea Stella Debut Monaco 1966 GPs 970 Titles 9 Last season 1st. In position to build on securing the constructors’ championship in 2024, McLaren will be quick out of the blocks. The car was the standout in testing and confidence is high. Lessons were learned through questionable execution last year and they have two outstanding drivers who are both hungrily eyeing the team’s first drivers’ title since 2008. How they manage them may be key from the off.
Drivers
Lando Norris (GB, 25) No 4 Debut Australia 2019 Wins 4 Poles 9 Titles 0 Best season finish 2nd Last season 2nd. Once given the car to compete, eagerly took the fight to Max Verstappen last season but by his own admission was occasionally found wanting. Believes he has identified and dealt with these shortcomings, not least in a determination to face down the Dutchman. With a quick car nothing less than the title has to be the target.
Oscar Piastri (Aus, 23) No 81 Debut Bahrain 2023 Wins 2 Poles 0 Best qualifying 2nd Titles 0 Best season finish 4th Last season 4th. Has made great strides in the previous two seasons and proved entirely unintimidated in taking control and bossing his way to wins. More will surely follow. Fearsomely quick and an incisive overtaker but to mount a title challenge he must match Norris in qualifying and get the best from his race tyres.
Ferrari
Car SF-25 Engine Ferrari Principal Frédéric Vasseur Debut Monaco 1950 GPs 1,098 Titles 16 Last season 2nd. Enjoying a resurgence as Vasseur’s impact is felt, the Scuderia are moving from strength to strength. With a calm control from the top bringing stability and purpose, plus optimism that last year’s weaknesses in the car have been eliminated, not to mention two of the best drivers on the grid, Ferrari should be genuine contenders. Anything short of regularly fighting for wins will be disappointing.
Drivers
Charles Leclerc (Mnc, 27) No 16 Debut Australia 2018 Wins 8 Poles 26 Titles 0 Best season finish 2nd Last season 3rd. Performed consistently last season and when Ferrari had the car firing, returned well with some drives highlighting his rare talent. Going up against Hamilton will be his toughest challenge but one that has inspired both drivers and as a veteran now at the team, Leclerc has every reason to believe he should be on top of any Ferrari title tilt.
Lewis Hamilton (GB, age 40) No 44 Debut Australia 2007 Wins 105 Poles 104 Titles 7 Last season 7th. A new challenge at Ferrari has invigorated the seven-times champion. Motivated and charged-up, and although starting afresh with a new team will be far from easy, Hamilton is relishing the task. The SF-25 looks to suit his driving style and he will throw his all into it, which is likely to be gripping whatever the outcome.
Red Bull
Car RB21 Engine Honda RBPT Principal Christian Horner Debut Australia 2005 GPs 393 Titles 6 Last season 3rd. A serious misstep in developing the car was costly in 2024 and testing suggests they are still to solve it, given Max Verstappen and his technical director Pierre Wache have yet to be convinced. Will doubtless be in the mix at the front but this time in a serious dogfight and without the safety net of a dominant opening.
Drivers
Max Verstappen (Neth, 27) No 1 Debut Australia 2015 Wins 63 Poles 40 Titles 4 Last season Champion. Battled hard and in typically uncompromising style to grind out his fourth championship after the Red Bull fell away mid-season in 2024. Shows no sign of any diminishing hunger but with the car still not quite where he wants it, and likely assailed by multiple rivals, may be set for the fight of his career to successfully defend the title.
Liam Lawson (NZ, 23) No 30 Debut Netherlands 2023 Best race finish 9th Poles 0 Best qualifying 5th Titles 0 Best season finish 20th Last season 21st. Going head to head with Verstappen is a huge ask that has broken many but Lawson looks of stern stuff having taken over from Daniel Ricciardo at RB last year. Mentally strong and highly rated, solid returns to back the Dutchman and keep the team in the title fight will be considered a success.
Mercedes
Car W16 Engine Mercedes Principal Toto Wolff Debut France 1954 GPs 317 Titles 8 Last season 4th. Having struggled since the last regulation change in 2022, Mercedes are optimistic they have finally ironed out the inconsistencies that have plagued every ride since then. At times last year they had the fastest car and if they have converted that into all-round performance they will be genuine players. The cool conditions in testing may have benefited them disproportionately, however, in which case another rollercoaster may await.
Drivers
George Russell (GB, 27) No 63 Debut Australia 2019 Wins 3 Poles 5 Titles 0 Best season finish 4th Last season 6th. Now team leader with Hamilton having moved on, Russell is more than ready to step up. Demonstrated last year he would be unyielding and robust in racing Verstappen and that given the tools he can deliver. If Mercedes have the car he will feel his time has come.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli (It, 27) No 12 Debut Australia 2025 Wins 0 Poles 0 Titles 0 Best season finish N/A Last season N/A. A graduate of their junior programme, Mercedes have shown enormous faith in promoting Kimi, as he is known, to replace Hamilton. A huge ask for the man who will be the third-youngest driver in F1 history when he takes to the grid in Melbourne. Inexperienced but rapid, aggressive and drives on instinct. Expect fireworks.
Aston Martin
Car AMR25 Engine Mercedes Principal Andy Cowell Debut Netherlands 1959 GPs 95 Titles 0 Best finish 5th Last season 5th. Adrian Newey did not arrive from Red Bull in time to have a material influence on the AMR25 so his design genius has yet to be felt and he is likely already focused on 2026. Meanwhile, Cowell, ex-Mercedes, has stepped up as principal and the new car is surely better than a lacklustre testing suggested, but their spot as best of the rest is under serious threat despite vast resources.
Drivers
Fernando Alonso (Sp, 43) No 14 Debut Australia 2001 Wins 32 Poles 22 Titles 2 Last season 9th. Likely now looking to still be in the game for 2026, when Newey, new regs and a new Honda engine might catapult Aston to the front, Alonso must prove he is still a force to be reckoned with. Has the chops, but will take luck as well as his innate flair to score a podium this season.
Lance Stroll (Can, 26) No 18 Debut Australia 2017 Best race finish 3rd Poles 1 Titles 0 Best season finish 10th Last season 13th. Even given his father owns the team, Stroll needs to return better finishes with more consistency. He too might already be eyeing the siren call of next season but should now demonstrate that he can keep up and even on occasion surpass his teammate and extract more from an imperfect ride.
Alpine
Car A525 Engine Renault Principal Oliver Oakes Debut Bahrain 2021 GPs 90 Titles 0 Best finish 4th Last season 6th. F1’s perennial underachievers are back for another shot at breaking free of the midfield shackles. Oakes, appointed midway through last season, has steadied the ship and made significant improvements, with the potential for so much more. With a lively driver pairing, a good run in testing suggests they are well placed to start strongly in a tight midfield.
Drivers
Pierre Gasly (Fr, 29) No 10 Debut Malaysia 2017 Wins 1 Poles 0 Best qualifying 2nd Titles 0 Best season finish 7th Last season 10th. Has the experience and the verve to lead and galvanise the team if they do indeed hit that upward curve and is still capable of stirring, compelling drives. Now has chance to build a new, harmonious relationship with his teammate Jack Doohan after a fractious one with the previous incumbent Esteban Ocon.
Jack Doohan (Aus, 22) No 7 Debut Abu Dhabi 2024 Best race finish 15th Poles 0 Best qualifying 17th Titles 0 Best season finish 24th Last season 24th. Made his debut in the final meeting last season and has long experience at Alpine as a reserve and academy driver but opens under enormous pressure. Alpine have already brought in Franco Colapinto as their reserve after he made such an impression with Williams last year and Doohan has to make a case to keep his seat in no short order.
Haas
Car VF-25 Engine Ferrari Principal Ayao Komatsu Debut Australia 2016 GPs 190 Titles 0 Best finish 5th Last season 7th. Komatsu did a stand-up job to move Haas forward from what was a low in 2023 and what was expected to be another painful year in 2024. Every indication that he has continued the progress. The car was rock-solid in testing where they focused on race pace and tyre wear, a former weakness, while they have drivers that could push beyond expectations of another seventh place.
Drivers
Esteban Ocon (Fr, 28) No 31 Debut Belgium 2016 Wins 1 Poles 0 Best qualifying 3rd Titles 0 Best season finish 8th Last season 14th. Dispensed with when relationship with Alpine and his teammate Gasly frayed in July 2024 although a superb second place in Brazil was a reminder of how good he can be. An experienced hand, will be expected to lead the Haas attack but with a strong challenge from his teammate.
Oliver Bearman (GB, 19) No 87 Debut Saudi Arabia 2024 Best race finish 7th Poles 0 Best qualifying 10th Titles 0 Best season finish 18th Last season 18th. Impressed as the super-sub for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari in Jeddah last season and then later for Haas. Deserved the accolades he earned, is quick and has proved he can adapt well alongside enjoying a prodigious rate of improvement. Carries high expectations but shows every indication of meeting them and will expect to score vital points.
Racing Bulls
Car VCARB 02 Engine Red Bull RBPT Principal Laurent Mekies Debut Bahrain 2006 GPs 353 Titles 0 Best finish 6th Last season 8th. Mekies, now entering his second season in charge at Red Bull’s sister team, will expect stability and to build a consistent challenge, especially after the distraction around Daniel Ricciardo last year. The car is the nicest-looking the team have fielded for some time but still appears a handful to drive which may leave them floundering in a fiercely competitive pack.
Drivers
Yuki Tsunoda (Jpn, 24) No 22 Debut Bahrain 2021 Best race finish 4th Poles 0 Best qualifying 3rd Titles 0 Best season finish 12th Last season 12th. Disappointed not to be given a shot with Red Bull after what was his best season yet in 2024 with nine points finishes and a superlative third on the grid in treacherous conditions in Brazil. More controlled and consistent than when he began four years ago, nonetheless Tsunoda is now likely driving to make his case for a future with another team.
Isack Hadjar (Fr, 20) No 6 Debut Australia 2025 Wins 0 Poles 0 Titles 0 Best season finish N/A Last season N/A. Promoted from the Red Bull junior programme and supported by its overseer, Helmut Marko, much is expected of Hadjar, who has no little pace. Was up to speed during testing, especially for a rookie, but has a tendency to lose his cool under pressure.
Williams
Car FW47 Engine Mercedes Principal James Vowles Debut Spain 1977 GPs 834 Titles 9 Last season 9th. Vowles continues the rebuilding process at Williams with indications his efforts are being rewarded sooner rather than later. After a battering last year the new car looks quick and stable, strong in and out of corners and made the case to lead the midfield in testing. A giant leap for the team who have two able drivers in what could be their best season since 2017.
Drivers
Alexander Albon (Thai, 28) No 23 Debut Australia 2019 Wins 0 Best race finish 3rd Poles 0 Best qualifying 4th Titles 0 Best season finish 7th Last season 16th. After a positive series of improving seasons, underperformed by his own standards last year, at times overshadowed by new boy Colapinto. Will expect an improvement and needs it going head to head with his new teammate who will be looking to take the lead and make his mark.
Carlos Sainz Jr (Sp, 30) No 55 Debut Australia 2015 Wins 4 Poles 6 Titles 0 Best season finish 5th Last season 5th. Unfortunate to be dropped by Ferrari in favour of Hamilton after having put in a solid, battling stint with the Scuderia. With no room at the front of the grid was tenaciously pursued by Vowles who recognised his experience as a key asset to a team on the up. A dogged fighter and just what Williams needs.
Sauber
Car C45 Engine Ferrari Principal Mattia Binotto (interim) Jonathan Wheatley (from 1 April) Debut South Africa 1993 GPs 486 Titles 0 Best finish 2nd Last season 10th. The last gasp before re-emerging as the Audi works team in 2026 looks set to be at very best a period of making-do. Wheatley, who played a huge part in Red Bull’s recent success, will be a strong addition but with the car ponderous and off the pace and the focus already set ahead, they appear destined to bring up the rear.
Drivers
Nico Hülkenberg (Ger, 37) No 27 Debut Bahrain 2010 Best race finish 4th Poles 1 Titles 0 Best season finish 7th Last season 11th. Brought in for his experience as the team transition to Audi he too will be looking toward 2026, but with a rookie teammate must be expected to drag whatever he can from the C45 and lift the team from the back of the grid. However, that elusive first F1 podium looks further than ever after 227 starts for the Hulk.
Gabriel Bortoleto (Bra, 20) No 5 Debut Australia 2025 Wins 0 Poles 0 Titles 0 Best season finish N/A Last season N/A. The former McLaren junior who took the F3 and F2 championships in his rookie seasons has no little pedigree and is managed by Alonso’s company. Binotto has praised his pace, attitude and huge potential with an eye on his role at Audi but, for now, a bruising rookie season awaits with Sauber.
