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.

Sky Sports has announced major broadcast innovations for F1, including an immersive sidebar with Race Control, onboard cameras for every driver with team radio, and enhanced data features at no extra cost.

The Formula 1 2026 season is in full swing, with significant changes to Sky Sports’ TV coverage. Last week saw Mercedes’ George Russell clinch pole position in Melbourne, and the drivers are now in Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix.

Sky Sports announced plans ahead of the season to introduce what it calls ‘cutting-edge broadcast innovations’ for its F1 coverage. Fans will soon have access to an immersive sidebar during each race weekend, featuring Race Control, in-race standings, and a Recap – or replay – function.

Other notable elements of the sidebar include dedicated driver and team pages, enhanced data, explainers, and improved homepage navigation. Viewers will also be able to stream onboard cameras from every driver, complete with team radio messages, throughout each race weekend.

Sky’s discounted Formula 1 package

£49

£35

Sky

Get Sky Sports here

Formula 1 fans can watch every practice, qualifier and race live with Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle in an introductory deal that saves £336.

As well as nine Sky Sports channels, this includes around 100 regular channels and free subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.

These new features will be introduced later this year at no additional charge to Sky Sports customers on Sky Glass, Sky Stream, and Sky Q devices, with a launch date yet to be confirmed. F1 enthusiasts who don’t currently have Sky can subscribe from £35 per month for the broadcaster’s premier Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.

This package includes live coverage of every practice, qualifying session, and race from every race weekend this season. The bundle comprises nine Sky Sports channels, approximately 100 regular TV channels, and subscriptions to Netflix and Disney+.

There’s also the option of the £42 Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle, which includes 35 additional channels and will soon feature Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu at no extra cost from March. Sky customers can add Sky Sports F1 to their current subscription package, with a rolling monthly subscription reduced from £20 to £15 through a special offer.

Virgin Media customers can access Sky Sports channels through the provider’s £52.99 Sport bundle, which includes more than 200 channels, 362Mbps fibre broadband and Netflix. A caveat to both Sky and Virgin’s deals is that prices may change at least twice during the 24-month contracts, including the usual April price increase.

Sky promotes itself as the ‘ultimate destination’ for F1, with the new features complementing existing coverage such as Pit Wall Live, The Grid Walk, The F1 Show and the returning The Notebook. The latter airs post-qualifying and post-race on Saturdays and Sundays, respectively, delivering analysis and the latest updates from the paddock with reporter Ted Kravitz.

Announcing the changes, Sky said: “Sky Sports is preparing for one of the most highly anticipated F1 seasons in recent years. With viewership increasing year-on-year, 2026 promises to be even bigger with new cars and rule changes coming into play.

“Featuring an expert line-up, cutting-edge broadcast innovations, and the only place to watch live coverage of all 24 races, Sky Sports remains the ultimate destination for Formula 1 fans in the UK and Ireland.”

Mercedes driver George Russell won the opening Australian Grand Prix Circuit of the Formula 1 2026 season as local hero Oscar Piastri suffered a disastrous start, crashing during the warm-up lap. Piastri sent the home fans into a shock as the 24-year-old, who finished third in the 2025 F1 drivers’ standings, lost control of his McLaren car while coming out of Turn 4 at the circuit in Melbourne.

Turn 4 at the Albert Park is one of the fastest parts of the track. And this is where Piastri lost control of his car as it spun and hit the barriers, suffering severe impact and ruling the driver out of the race.

Russell wins Melbourne GP, Piastri crashes 

Thankfully, Piastri did not suffer any physical damage, but he would certainly have been bitterly disappointed at not finishing the home race.

His partner and 2025 world champion, Lando Norris, finished the Melbourne Grand Prix in fifth position, missing out on the podium in the first race of the season.

Oscar Piastri has crashed and is OUT of the Australian Grand Prix before it begins 😮#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/5prGby7dNC

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 8, 2026

It was double delight for Mercedes as youngster Kimi Antonelli came second on Sunday, while Charles Leclerc of Ferrari was third. Lewis Hamilton would be somewhat happy that he finished fourth.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen finished sixth in the Red Bull.

George Russell and Kimi Antonelli were also at the top in the qualifying as they made it a Mercedes 1-2.

F1 live streaming: The F1 2026 races in India are being streamed live on the FanCode app and website.

More to follow…

The new season of Formula 1 gets underway this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix set to take place at Melbourne’s Albert Park Circuit on Sunday. And for the first time in five years, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will not be starting the season as the defending champion, with
McLaren’s Lando Norris having beaten the Dutchman by just two points in the thrilling season-ending race in Abu Dhabi to win his maiden world title.

The 2026 F1 season will also mark the beginning of a new era, with the cars in the elite single-seater racing competition undergoing a major overhaul, especially when it comes to the chassis and engines, with focus on energy management.

Hamilton and Verstappen slam new F1 rules

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Verstappen – who have a total of 11 F1 world titles between them – aren’t exactly in an upbeat state of mind heading into the new Formula 1 season, and it has everything to do with FIA’s new rules that will be enforced this year.

Hamilton, who will be eyeing a record-breaking eighth world title this year after enduring a poor debut with Scuderia in 2025, had described the new rules as “ridiculously complex”, even claiming that F1 fans might need a university degree to fully understand them.

“None of the fans are going to understand it, I don’t think. It’s so complex,” Hamilton had told ESPN during the pre-season testing in Bahrain last month. “It’s ridiculously complex. I sat in a meeting the other day and they’re taking us through it. It’s ike you need a degree to fully understand it all.”

Verstappen had seconded Hamilton’s sensational statement,
describing it as “Formula E on steroids” after taking the new car for a spin during the pre-season testing.

“To drive (they are) not a lot of fun, to be honest. I would say the right word is management. It’s not very Formula One-like. It feels a bit more like Formula E on steroids,” the four-time world champion had said last month.

“A lot of what you do as a driver, in terms of inputs, has a massive effect on the energy side of things. For me, that’s just not Formula 1. Maybe it’s then better to drive Formula E, right? Because that’s all about energy, efficiency and management,” he added.

What are the key changes in F1 2026? 

A key change in F1’s regulations this year is the introduction of battery management with drivers now having multiple power modes at their disposal for the duration of a race.

Among the new power modes is the Overtake Mode, a battery-boosted system that replaces the old Drag Reduction System – a driver-controlled device that opens a flap on the rear wing to reduce aerodynamic drag and helps in overtaking by boosting straight-line speed. Drivers can also gain a boost in power upto 350KW through the Boost mode, but will also have to recover it through the Recharge mode – both features being controlled by the electrical system.

Another major change is in the engines, with the new hybrid versions now have an equal split in power between the internal combustion engine (ICE) and electrical energy. The 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrids will be producing close to 1,000bhp, and while the split between the ICE and the electrical unit was 80-20 until the last season, it will be nearly equal starting this year.

These are FIVE of the key changes in this season’s technical regulations! 💪🔧#F1 pic.twitter.com/nM1XbJqwM6

— Formula 1 (@F1) January 23, 2026

And while the FIA has decided to do away with DRS, cars will have the front as well as rear wings opening on a straight and closing through corners  and will be available to drivers at all times.

The fuel additionally, will have to be certified as 100 per cent sustainable by the FIA going forward. Teams can either use synthetic fuel made using sustainably sourced hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide, or a biofuel.

It remains to be seen how the new rules affect the standings in the season opener that takes place on Sunday at 9.30 IST.

All you need to know about 2026 Formula 1 season

Here’s the full list of teams and their drivers in action in the 77th season of the Formula One World Championship:

Saying hello 👋

This is the class of F1 in 2026 👊#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/O3kNiSjhap

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 6, 2026

Alpine: Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto

Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll

Cadillac: Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas

Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton

Haas: Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman

McLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri

Mercedes: George Russell and Kimi Antonelli

Racing Bulls: Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad

Red Bull Racing: Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar

Here’s the full schedule for the upcoming season:

8 March: Australian Grand Prix Albert Park Circuit

15 March: Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai International Circuit

29 March: Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit

12 April: Bahrain Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit

19 April: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at Jeddah Street Circuit

3 May: Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome

24 May: Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

7 June: Monaco Grand Prix at Circuit de Monaco

14 June: Barcelona Grand Prix at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya

28 June: Austrian Grand Prix at Red Bull Ring, Spielberg.

5 July: British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire

19 July: Belgian Grand Prix at Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps

26 July: Hungarian Grand Prix at Hungaroring

23 August: Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort

6 September: Italian Grand Prix at Autodromo Nazionale Monza

13 September: Spanish Grand Prix at Circuito de Madring

26 September: Azerbaijan Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit

11 October: Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay Street Circuit

25 October: United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas

1 November: Mexico City Grand Prix at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez

8 November: Brazilian Grand Prix at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace Interlagos

22 November: Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Street Circuit

29 November: Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail International Circuit

6 December: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit

Where can I watch the 2026 Formula 1 season live? 

Formula 1 fans in India can watch the 2026 season live on the Fancode website and application, or on the official F1 TV platform. Subscription prices on FanCode vary from Rs 99 for a Race Weekend Pass to Rs 1,499 for an Unlimited Live Stream Pass for the entire year.

F1 TV, on the other hand, offers three subscriptions that are priced at USD 19.99 (approximately Rs 1,840), USD 29.99 (approximately Rs 2,760) and USD 39.99 (approximately Rs 3,680) respectively.

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.

Formula 1 returns this week as the 2026 season gets underway at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 6-8

Formula 1 makes its return this week as the 2026 campaign kicks off with all the racing broadcast live on a single channel. Reigning champion Lando Norris will begin his title defence against Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne from March 6-8.

This represents the opening round of 24 races this season, concluding with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from December 4-6. Several significant alterations feature this year, including a fresh circuit joining the racing calendar.

The drivers will navigate the streets of Madrid in September following Imola’s removal from the schedule. Additionally, American manufacturer Cadillac enters the competition, bringing the total number of teams to 11 for the first time in ten years.

Formula 1 enthusiasts can view all 24 race weekends throughout the campaign live on Sky Sports, broadcasting every practice session, qualifying and race on the Sky Sports F1 channel. Those without a Sky subscription can gain access through the provider’s flagship sports package, the £35 Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.

This provides access to nine dedicated sports channels including F1 and Premier League, alongside approximately 100 standard channels, Netflix and discovery+. Customers choosing the £42 Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle will also receive 35 additional channels, with Disney+, HBO Max and Hayu access included at no extra cost from March.

Sky’s discounted Formula 1 package

£49

£35

Sky

Get Sky Sports here

Formula 1 fans can watch every practice, qualifier and race live with Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle in an introductory deal that saves £336.

As well as nine Sky Sports channels, this includes around 100 regular channels and free subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.

Current Sky customers can now add Sky Sports F1 to their package at a reduced rate, with the monthly subscription dropping from £20 to £15 per month. This is a 31-day rolling contract that can be cancelled at any time with 31 days’ notice.

Meanwhile, Virgin Media also provides Sky Sports access through its £52.99 Sport bundle. Whilst pricier than Sky, it includes over 200 channels plus 362Mbps fibre broadband.

However, customers should bear in mind that Sky and Virgin increase their prices annually, meaning bills will rise at least twice during the 24-month contracts.

Here’s the complete schedule for F1 2026:

Formula 1 2026 race schedule

• Australia: March 6-8
• China: March 13-15
• Japan: March 27-29
• Bahrain: April 10-12
• Saudi Arabia: April 17-19
• Miami: May 1-3
• Canada: May 22-24
• Monaco: June 5-7
• Barcelona: June 12-14
• Austria: June 26-28
• Great Britain: July 3-5
• Belgium: July 17-19
• Hungary: July 24-26
• Netherlands: August 21-23
• Italy: September 4-6
• Madrid: September 11-13
• Azerbaijan: September 24-26
• Singapore: October 9-11
• USA: October 23-25
• Mexico: Oct 30-Nov 1
• Brazil: November 6-8
• Las Vegas: November 19-21
• Qatar: November 27-29
• Abu Dhabi: December 4-6