10 huge questions heading into F1’s biggest rule change ever

A brand new 12 months is sort of upon us and with it F1 will enter a brand new daybreak.

The world championship is poised for the biggest-ever rule change, with main new chassis and energy unit laws threatening to shake-up the aggressive order, whereas F1 will welcome an eleventh staff on the grid.

On the eve of F1’s new period, we’ve tackled some huge questions…

Can Norris defend his crown?

Lando Norris will head into the 2026 F1 season because the reigning world champion – a childhood-long dream lastly fulfilled and the burden of expectations lastly lifted.

All through Norris’ profession, he’s been open in regards to the psychological demons which have affected him, notably early on throughout his McLaren stint. Norris is extra open than most, and that’s left him susceptible to scrutiny.

It wouldn’t be unfair to say that Norris is well flustered – or has buckled underneath strain earlier than, however in 2025, the truth is that when he needed to ship on the enterprise finish of the championship, he did. Sure, Oscar Piastri has a ‘cooler’ persona – however just one driver imploded within the title run-in.

Does this even matter in 2026? To some extent. Norris was compelled to dig deep in the course of this 12 months and realised he needed to make important modifications to capitalise on the good automotive McLaren gave him. For that, he deserves nice respect.

Norris has proven he can bounce again from adversity and lift his sport when he must. Did he have the most effective automotive? Sure. Is he a ‘automotive service provider’? Removed from it…

The self-doubts Norris might need had earlier than his F1 title win ought to have evaporated now that he’s world champion. For that cause alone, it’s exhausting to not suppose the model of Norris we’ll see in 2026 might be a step up from the one we witnessed over the past 9 months.

And it could be honest to argue that Norris’ title-winning 12 months wasn’t even amongst his finest three seasons in F1 – 2021, 2022 and 2024 have been all extra convincing, when crucially he was extra snug behind the wheel of the McLaren.

Inevitably, it’ll come down as to if McLaren offers him the instruments to take action. The MCL39 was probably the most technically superior, dominant automotive on the 2025 grid so it’s exhausting to not see them within the combine once more, particularly if Mercedes ship with their new engine.

Connor McDonagh

Will McLaren proceed to make use of ‘Papaya Guidelines’?

One of many greatest and most divisive speaking factors of 2025 proved to be McLaren’s use of ‘Papaya Guidelines’.

‘Papaya Guidelines’ are a code of conduct used to function pointers for aggressive however honest racing that underlines McLaren’s values of teamwork.

The foundations have been initially launched to forestall Norris and Piastri from crashing into each other. The time period was first utilized by McLaren staff principal Andrea Stella in the course of the 2024 Italian Grand Prix after Norris and Piastri’s tense wheel-to-wheel battle on the opening lap.

They developed in 2025 as a part of McLaren’s bid to make sure honest and equal remedy between Norris and Piastri as they battled it out for the world championship.

McLaren’s insistence on holding issues equal between their drivers turned more and more extra awkward because the title race hotted up, and was sophisticated by Max Verstappen’s emergence as a championship contender.

‘Papaya Guidelines’ have been blamed for McLaren’s controversial driver swap at Monza, whereas some argued it was the explanation the reigning world champions blundered their technique on the Qatar Grand Prix and handed victory to their foremost rival Verstappen within the course of.

Whereas McLaren had their justifiable share of critics who accused them of obsessive micro-management, the strategy finally averted the necessity for direct staff orders.

McLaren are anticipated to proceed with their coverage of full equity and equality subsequent season, and can level to the actual fact they efficiently achieved their objective of successful each world championships with this strategy. 

Whether or not the wholesome staff concord between Norris and Piastri might be maintained is one other matter…

Lewis Larkam 

Mercedes the early favourites?

The discuss of the paddock relating to 2026 is Mercedes. Deja vu, maybe, from the tip of 2013, once they have been tipped to begin the brand new engine guidelines because the clear benchmark.

Mercedes delivered in 2014, producing an all-conquering energy unit that even noticed Williams propel themselves from backmarkers to common podium contenders. May the identical occur in 2026?

Mercedes’ observe report and expertise make them the favourites and the plain alternative. Ferrari’s title drought stretches again to 2008 – and their current marketing campaign was arguably their worst this century, given the lofty pre-season expectations.

Purple Bull are operating their very own engine for the primary time, so it’s exhausting to see them as a challenger from the off, whereas Audi will want time to rise up to hurry as they grow to be a works outfit in 2026.

The large uncertainty – and certain challenger – may very well be Honda. The Japanese producer is becoming a member of forces with Aston Martin. Add Adrian Newey into the combo, they usually may very well be one to look at.

The protected wager is Mercedes, and inevitably being a works staff will give them advantages over McLaren, Williams and Alpine – their three buyer groups – when it comes to integration and preliminary understanding of the PU.

Mercedes are the logical alternative – however nothing’s for sure, particularly with the foundations drastically altering throughout the board, not simply on the engine aspect.

CMD

Will Max Verstappen keep or go?

The way forward for Verstappen is ready to be a significant speaking that can possible dominate the upcoming months.

Verstappen put an finish to months of hypothesis that he might be part of Mercedes in the summertime by confirming that he would stay with Purple Bull for no less than the 2026 season.

The four-time world champion is contracted to Purple Bull till the tip of 2028 however his deal is known to incorporate a number of performance-related clauses that enable him to stop the staff early in sure circumstances.

The Mercedes-Verstappen story is prone to grow to be a subject once more in 2026. Regardless of committing to George Russell and Kimi Antonelli for subsequent season, Mercedes staff principal Toto Wolff has refused to rule out signing Verstappen if the chance happened.

In spite of everything, who might blame him? Verstappen as soon as once more confirmed why he’s the most effective driver on the F1 grid as he got here agonisingly near pulling off the best title comeback ever seen in 2025.

Verstappen may have no scarcity of potential suitors, with Aston Martin additionally understood to be sniffing across the Dutchman.

However any resolution to go away Purple Bull would finally hinge on their competitiveness in 2026, which stays an unknown.

Verstappen would have his decide of groups ought to he make himself accessible, and whether or not he choses to remain or go, he might be a key domino in influencing what may very well be a reasonably wild 2027 driver market.

LL

Can Hadjar break the Purple Bull curse?

Isack Hadjar is the newest driver to be given the unattainable job of going up in opposition to Verstappen in the identical staff.

Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have all failed regardless of displaying promise throughout their occasions in F1.

Sergio Perez was given 4 seasons, however in contrast to the aforementioned quartet, had dominant, title-winning equipment. Plus, Perez’s expertise naturally helped him survive at Purple Bull, no less than up till the primary third of 2023.

Hadjar loved an unbelievable rookie season, scoring his maiden F1 podium on the Dutch Grand Prix. He was an everyday Q3 contender and loved a decisive efficiency edge over Lawson.

Hadjar’s Racing Bulls stint has been convincing. Lawson was promoted to Purple Bull initially of 2025 regardless of not out-qualifying Tsunoda in any respect after stepping in for Daniel Ricciardo post-Singapore.

Tsunoda was dismantled by Gasly and didn’t wipe the ground with Ricciardo. Had been Purple Bull ever actually satisfied or anticipating him to carry out?

Hadjar has genuinely been spectacular, and his Purple Bull arrival coincides with a whole regulation sweep – that means a whole reset when it comes to automotive philosophy.

Can he break the Purple Bull curse? Fairly presumably. He actually has a greater probability than Lawson or Tsunoda ever did.

CMD

The place will Ferrari be?

One other enormous query mark on all people’s lips surrounds Ferrari’s competitiveness – or lack of it.

Ferrari endured a nightmare 2025 season as they slipped from second to fourth within the constructors’ championship and didn’t win a race for the primary time since 2021.

It proved to be a nightmare begin for Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari as his dream blockbuster transfer shortly descended right into a nightmare.

Ferrari might be hoping the all-new regulation modifications for 2026 will provide an opportunity to return to the entrance of the grid and eventually finish their 18-year title drought.

2026 might be a make-or-break 12 months for Ferrari and the way forward for each Charles Leclerc and Hamilton. Extra on that beneath…

LL

May Lewis Hamilton retire?

Hamilton endured the worst season of his F1 profession to this point in 2025. The seven-time world champion failed to complete on the rostrum throughout the complete season.

Whereas Hamilton did present glimpses of magic – successful the China dash – and real progress at occasions, his general performances have been regarding. Extra worryingly, Hamilton’s messaging after robust weekends led to questions on his future within the sport.

Respected Italian publication Autoracer.it have instructed that Ferrari have an possibility to increase Hamilton’s contract for 2027 – however that’s on the staff’s aspect. It does counsel that if Hamilton has one other tough season in 2026, Ferrari might exchange him.

What might work in Hamilton’s favour is that Leclerc’s future can be underneath scrutiny. Leclerc is rising more and more annoyed with Ferrari’s incapability to provide him a title-contending automotive.

The identical publication have reported no less than three groups are focused on Leclerc’s companies for 2027. Naturally, if Leclerc was to go away, Ferrari may need continuity by holding Hamilton.

In the end, it is going to be all the way down to Hamilton to up his sport on observe. His kind over the previous two seasons has been removed from the extent you’d anticipate from him.

There’s little question that the acclimatisation course of at Ferrari has been robust, so one other 12 months on the staff, in concept, ought to solely profit Hamilton.

One other issue may very well be the brand new automobiles for subsequent 12 months. The ‘floor impact’ period is now over, which might go well with Hamilton’s driving fashion extra. Nevertheless, as seen with Ricciardo between 2021 and 2022, a brand new rule-set doesn’t assure rediscovering outdated kind.

In the end, it’s in Hamilton’s arms.

CMD

Can Aston Martin grow to be winners?

There’s enormous pleasure surrounding Aston Martin’s challenge for 2026 and past.

The AMR26 would be the first Aston Martin created by F1 design legend Adrian Newey utilizing the Silverstone-based squad’s spectacular new amenities and might be powered by Honda as a part of an unique energy unit partnership.

Newey’s involvement particularly has led to options that Aston Martin may very well be the staff to beat in 2026, probably opening the door for Fernando Alonso to say a 3rd world championship that has to this point eluded him. 

Aston Martin have daring ambitions to grow to be F1 world championship challengers within the coming years, however acknowledge it could take one thing actually particular to make such a bounce subsequent 12 months. Nevertheless, F1’s guidelines reset might present that chance. 

Combating for podiums and the odd victory in 2026 would mark a significant step ahead for Aston Martin, who’ve had a tough few seasons since making an unbelievable begin to the 2023 marketing campaign.

Expectations for 2026 will possible be tempered throughout the staff, however there might be enormous strain to enhance on their underwhelming seventh-placed end within the 2025 constructors’ championship.

After all of the construct up, discuss and big funding, one factor is definite; there might be nowhere for Aston Martin subsequent season.

LL

How will Cadillac get on?

F1 welcomes its first new staff in a decade, with Cadillac becoming a member of the grid in 2026.

Not like Haas, which joined the grid in 2016 with a technical partnership with Ferrari, Cadillac are ranging from full scratch and are counting on themselves to ship in F1.

The size of the problem is unprecedented, however given Cadillac’s roots and historical past in motorsport, it needs to be a matter of time earlier than they’re aggressive.

Their efficiency will finally depend upon how aggressive Ferrari’s 2026 engine is. As seen in 2014 with Mercedes, all of their buyer groups had a big benefit over the sector.

One space the place Cadillac haven’t fallen brief is their drivers. Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez are seasoned veterans.

Fairly merely, if the automotive is nice, they are going to get probably the most out of it. Whereas Bottas didn’t rating a degree in his remaining season at Sauber, his benefit over teammate Zhou Guanyu was near 0.5s throughout the season, suggesting he was nonetheless acting at a excessive degree.

Perez has solely been vindicated since his Purple Bull exit, given Lawson and Tsunoda’s struggles. By way of scoring an opportunistic outcome out of nowhere, there aren’t many higher than Perez in F1.

If Cadillac are aggressive within the decrease midfield and aren’t constant backmarkers, then that will be success for them of their first 12 months.

CMD

Will racing be higher?

F1’s regulation overhaul makes the 2026 season some of the eagerly-anticipated in years.

The brand new era of automobiles might be smaller and lighter and have new energetic aerodynamics in a bid to spice up overtaking.

It’s hoped the brand new design will enable for automobiles to comply with one another extra simply and finally ship higher racing motion.

The drivers may have extra energy of their arms than ever earlier than, and can face vital decision-making over power deployment, regeneration and conservation.

It will add an intriguing new dynamic and it is going to be fascinating to see which drivers grasp the brand new guidelines finest.

Improved wheel-to-wheel motion is actually F1’s intention however the proof might be within the pudding.

LL