Mercedes have clearly emerged as the fastest car in the new Formula 1 2026 season, completing a 1-2 at the inaugural Australian Grand Prix and George Russell winning at Albert Park. The compression of car dimensions and the 50/50 power split between the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and electrical energy have seemingly catapulted Mercedes back to being the best.

So can they win their first Formula One Constructors’ Championship since 2021?

Former Williams and Renault driver Jacques Villeneuve believes the competitive picture in Formula One could change as the 2026 season progresses, even if Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team appears to have a big advantage.

“Well, the team will get closer during the season as we progress. That’s a given. Then we’ll see how much Mercedes has an advantage or not. Mercedes really have a good chassis. Ferrari is there close enough to get good points, which could allow them later in the season to get some victories once everything balances,” Jacques Villeneuve told Firstpost during an online interaction organised by online broadcaster FanCode.

‘A little bit tougher for McLaren and Red Bull’

Villeneuve, who was speaking from Shanghai ahead of the upcoming weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, added that four-time world champion Max Verstappen and Red Bull should also be able to do well as we complete more races despite leadership changes at the team.

“A little bit tougher for McLaren and Red Bull, although we’ve seen Red Bull always recover. So, Max (Verstappen), if he’s not too far, always count on him and his teammate (Isack Hadjar) seems to be good this year. He has a teammate who seems to be able to be competitive, which should help the team move forward. But the team has changed so much at Red Bull that we still have to figure out and understand how they all work together now, because even the head of the team has changed. Helmut Marko is not there either.”

2025 winner McLaren had a tough time in Melbourne as
world champion Norris finished fifth, and Oscar Piastri crashed out in the warm-up lap. Villeneuve feels early indications only suggest that McLaren are far from ready to put up a title challenge in 2026.

“What is difficult to understand is how much slower the McLaren is than the Mercedes because it’s supposed to be the same engine. And it’s hard to understand how they could be so far behind, other than maybe they spent all the energy last year on winning the championship and not really designing the new car.”

A job well done for Mercedes and George Russell 👏🫡#F1Sprint #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/2QrxfE6DcY

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 13, 2026

Villeneuve also pointed out that 23-year-old Piastri of McLaren, who missed out on the driver championship by 13 points last year, is under the most pressure among all the drivers on the grid.

“Piastri was leading the whole championship last year. He had his shot, but his teammate is now a world champion…Mostly when, as a driver, you know that you had your shot at winning a championship and now the car doesn’t seem to be able to give you that anymore, that puts the expectations so high on him,” the 54-year-old Villeneuve said.

“When he was signed with McLaren, everyone was saying he was the real deal. He’s the world champion. But he hasn’t shown it. Now people start thinking, was it true? The ball changes camps so fast. It’s a very fragile position. It’s a very human nature that people are almost happy when someone fails and falters and it’s tough. So I would say he’s the one under the most pressure right now.”

Villeneuve praises India-origin driver Arvid Lindblad

One of the standout performers from the opening race weekend was young Indian-origin driver Arvid Lindblad, who impressed in the opening race with P8 finish in Racing Bulls. But Villeneuve urged caution before drawing big conclusions.

“Arvid did amazing in Melbourne. He was ahead of his teammate in the race. He raced well and he’s quite young. But you have to be careful because the number of heroes we’ve had in their first race in Melbourne every year and people say, oh great, that’s the next future champion. But within two races they disappear completely,” Villeneuve, who won five races in his F1 career, said.

Also Read |
Back to his Indian roots, new F1 sensation Arvid Lindblad spoke like he drives — fast, fearless and ready for Formula One

“So there’s always this excitement of the first race, the adrenaline of that first race, that often makes them overperform. And then suddenly they think, wow, I’m great and collapse after that. So we have to wait and see. But he seems to be the real deal. So let’s give him two or three races to see what happens. But that was an impressive first race under pressure.”

All in all, Villeneuve’s message is clear — the early shape of the season might suggest a Mercedes advantage, but Formula One seasons don’t always stay predictable for long. As teams adapt, the real competitive order could still shift in the months ahead.

The F1 2026 season in India is being streamed live on FanCode.

At a boardroom in Greater Noida, not far from where India once hosted Formula One, Arvid Lindblad walked into a room full of journalists and answered questions the way he drives – quickly, precisely, without wasted motion.

There was no theatrical pause before his debut season. No exaggerated proclamations about destiny. Just clarity. At 18, on the cusp of stepping onto the Formula One grid, Briton Lindblad,
who has roots in India, spoke with the composure of someone who has long rehearsed this moment in his mind.

“My whole life, the dream was to get to Formula One. So the fact that it’s coming true is obviously very exciting. And the fact that I’m the only rookie is not really something I’d pay much attention to. Thinking about that, it’s not going to make me go any faster or slower, so I just focus on driving,” Lindblad, whose maternal Grandparents hail from Punjab, told a select group of journalists before Red Bull’s Moto Jam 2026.

It was an answer delivered at pace, like he was out for a trial lap on fresh tyres, but beneath it sat a matured philosophy. If it doesn’t make him faster, it doesn’t matter.

The burden of Lindblad’s big decisions at 18

Soon, much of the conversation in the large room drifted toward something that rarely gets explored in motorsport – what it means to make adult decisions as a teenager. From contracts, teams, advisors to career-defining calls, all taken while most people his age are still choosing university subjects.

Even here, Lindblad didn’t dramatise anything. He was quick, but also spoke from the heart and with clarity.

“Yeah, I think it’s an interesting point you make,” he said in response to a question from Firstpost. “I mean, it’s not really something I’ve dwelled on too much, but for sure, coming through the ranks at a younger age, I have had to spend a bit more time on my own. But I don’t know, I think I’ve got a very good team around me, you know, my sort of personal team, but also with Red Bull, I mean, that’s a big part of Red Bull’s role.

Here’s more @tedkravitz x Arvid Lindblad in New Delhi content pic.twitter.com/Ymipm6HOLb

— Desi Racing Co (@DesiRacingco) March 1, 2026

“You know, when I joined the programme, they helped a lot with sort of managing my career, deciding what teams to go with and all these kinds of things. So for me, it was never really something that I dwelled on too much or took too much of my headspace because I knew that was being looked after and they had my best interests at heart. And I know, yeah, with them and my parents, they were discussing it.”

It’s clear by now that even at such a young age, Lindblad understands the value of a team. There’s never an attempt to highlight his own brilliance, but only humbleness to accept that he is a product of a process and system. And perhaps that is what makes him appear older than 18, and that’s why he can be good even in his debut season.

Entering F1’s new era

Meanwhile, Lindblad’s debut coincides with sweeping technical changes. New power units and less downforce. For a rookie, that could be troubling. For him, it seems like a puzzle.

“Obviously, they’re very different. The car itself is just a bit less grip, but it’s not super different, you know, there’s just a bit less downforce. But the engine, I’d say, is probably the biggest change for me. Obviously, it’s very new. I’ve never really experienced a change like this because in the junior categories, it never really happens. So you know, just trying to work through all the problems to try to improve everything.”

“The 2025 car last year was very fast and it was really very impressive to drive. It was a big step up from F2 for sure. Now there is less of a step just because the cars are slower. I don’t know, I haven’t really got an opinion. I’m kind of just driving to what I’ve got. You could argue it’s easier because it’s slower, but I think it’s much more complicated now because there’s a lot more new elements, a lot more things you have to be aware of while driving.”

Learning from the best

Inevitably, the conversation turned to the drivers he grew up watching. On Lewis Hamilton, his answer carried the warmth of a childhood admirer.

“Yeah, Lewis was the one whom I’d say I sort of looked up to a bit more growing up. I haven’t sort of seen him that much, to be honest. I think the only thing was last year I played Uno with him, which was quite a cool moment for me.”

On Max Verstappen, Lindblad was analytical. “I think Max, as everyone knows, is extremely impressive. I think the level that he’s performing at the moment is arguably the best we’ve ever seen in Formula One! I think what he’s able to do week in week out is extremely impressive and I think there’s a lot I can learn from him.”

Bringing India back to F1 grid

Perhaps the most emotional moment of the interaction came when Lindblad spoke about his Indian roots. In Greater Noida – a region that once hosted the Indian Grand Prix – the resonance was obvious.

“I mean, obviously, it’s something (Indian roots) I’m very proud of. I’ve really enjoyed it over the past couple of years when I’ve come to India. My grandparents are from India, from the Punjab region. They moved to the UK and I’ve been brought up with many of the Indian traditions and the general culture. Eating Indian food and celebrating poojas, all these kinds of things, from an early age. So for me, when I come to India, it’s always been very exciting, even just to see how similar my upbringing was. So be sure it’s something I’m very proud of.

WHAT. A. MOMENT. 🇮🇳 @redbullindia #F1 #VCARB #RedBullMotoJam pic.twitter.com/jCCv3XAlON

— Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team (@visacashapprb) March 1, 2026

“There has been noise about bringing India back to the F1 grid. See, I’m looking forward.”

That was it. Lindbald didn’t have anymore time than a little over 10 minutes to continue the insightful conversation. But you can imagine how clear he is in his thoughts, as he explained all his ideas so clearly in such a short time. And if he drives anything as he speaks, Red Bull-owned Racing Bulls have a potential superstar in their car.