Time to Kickoff the 2026 Formula 1 season

“But it’s a long way to the Top, If You wanna Rock ‘n Roll”

 

VIDEO: It’s A Long Way to the Top

 

Think everyone’s heard Ad Nauseum that this year’s Formula 1 championship sees the most complex set of technical regulation changes, i.e.; chassis and power unit. With a total of two new PU (Power Unit) manufacturers joining the fray. Audi as its own Werks supplier, and Ford in conjunction with Red Bull Power Train. (RBPT) With a total of five PU manufacturers, i.e.; Audi,(1)  Ferrari, (3)  Honda, (1) Mercedes (4)  and Red Bull Ford. (2) With Ferrari customers being Haas and Cadillac; Mercedes being Alpine, McLaren and Williams, and Ford supplying both Red Bull entities. With Aston Martin becoming Honda’s Werks’ team, dropping its Mercedes customer PU; effectively taken up by Alpine.

 

RETRO: A Sad Day for French Motorsports

 

There’s now a total of 11 F1 Constructors, with the addition of Audi, who’s purchase of Sauber is now complete. And the brand new Cadillac entry, as the grid’s 11th team. With Cadillac using customer Ferrari PU’s until 2029, giving us Yanks two U.S. Flagged F1 Constructors this year.

 

Haven’t read the latest gossip over the reported PU roe, with Mercedes and Red Bull Ford being alleged of managing to skirt the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) maximum compression 16:1 ratio regulation, by having their engines combustion chambers “tighten” up under extreme heat to circumvent this regulation and increase compression to 18:1 if I understand this correctly? With cynics suggesting an increase of lap times of 0.4 second per lap.

 

As nothing like a little controversy to get the pre-season started, Eh?

 

On the drivers front, there was very little change overall, with eight of the 10 Formula 1 teams from last year standing pat. As only the two Red bull outfits made driver changes. With Isack Hadjar being elevated to the Big Bulls’, aka Red Bull Racing as Yuki Tsnoda’s replacement. And the series lone rookie Arvid Lindblad joining thee ‘lil Bullz’, nee Racing Bulls as Hadjar’s vacated seat.

 

Veteran F1 drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Botta return to Formula 1 after a year’s absence as Cadillac’s two drivers. And although Perez is talking Bullish about the team scoring points in its maiden campaign. I’ll expect there to be the usual teething issues of any brand new entity…

 

Cannot say I’m a fan of the Canadian Grand Prix moving to Memorial Day to butt heads with the Indianapolis 500, especially since there’s a three weeks gap between Miami and Montreal. Whilst not sure if any other calendar changes? Other than keeping the usual allotment of six Sprint race weekends, i.e.; Shanghai, Miami, Montreal, Silverstone, Zandvoort and Singapore.

 

While I’ve previously tried briefly chronicling this season’s massive  technical changes in the preceding No Fenders post…

 

F1: Dawning of the Latest era begins 

And now, All the remaining Open Wheel Seats are Filled

Testing-Testing, 1-2. Has Dale Coyne actually named His second driver, Cough-Cough?

 

Yeah Ladies ‘n Germs’, your two left Thumbs Scribe Tomaso is another day late, and definitely many dollars shorter after another enjoyable trek to thee Valley of the Sun! Without even realizing I was visiting during the IndyCar test at Phoenix Raceway.

 

Hence no riveting St Pete IndyCar recaps here Folks…

 

Perhaps its just Mwah, but does anybody ever notice how “Sharp” formula 1 is? And doesn’t waste time making decisions or announcing changes. Which perhaps is partially due to the scope of it being a multi-billions, as in “B” business…

 

Although we know that Dale Coyne will have to name its second, Err “lead” driver by February 8th, since IndyCar holds it’s first Open test on Sebring’s “Short” road course February 9-10, Righto?

 

Although perhaps Valentines Day is the new Halloween for Dale Coyne, Hya!

 

Meanwhile, Wayback’ on December 2nd, Red Bull announced the expected. That F1 rookie sensation Isack Hadjar would be moving up to the Big Bulls, replacing Yuki Tsunoda. And that 18yr old Arvid Lindblad would graduate to the ‘lil Bullz’, aka Racing Bulls as Liam Lawson’s new teammate.

 

While Tsunoda’s confined to the dubious role of test and reserve driver at Red Bull. And Arse-sumedly Racing Bulls? As Tsunoda’s contracted to Red Bull for 2026.

 

On Dec 4th, Haas announced that beginning in 2026, it would be renamed as TGR Haas F1 Team, thanks to an expanded partnership with Toyota. Who Haas already has a technical partnership with.

 

As TGR stands for Toyota Gazoo Racing, who are also title sponsors for Hitech’s Formula 2 and Formula 3 teams, beginning last year.

 

As Mucho Attenzione will be focused upon Hitech TGR’s F2 team this year, since Colton Herta will drive the team’s No. 3 entry. With rising Japanese Star Ritomo Miyata aboard the No. 4 spec Dallara F2 2024 Mecachrome racecar.

 

Then two days after season’s end, when the Post Abu Dhabi GP Young Drivers test was being held. (Dec 9th) Der Helmut’, aka Helmut Marco, Red Bull’s longtime special advisor and Junior Driver Impresario tendered His resignation after 20 years with Red Bull. Having been instrumental with bringing Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen to Red Bull Racing.

 

Helmet Marco leaves Red Bull

 

Although Der Helmut was also famously known for discarding Red Bull Junior drivers like tepid bathwater, Ja Volt!

 

Slinking back across thoust Gory Puddle. Stateside, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLLR) gave IndyCar rookie Mick Schumacher his first Oval test at Miami’s Homestead 1.5-mile Speedway, on February 4th.

 

“It was a great first day”, as Mick Schumacher completes first Oval laps at Homestead

 

The above article was posted on Racer.com, which refuses to update its website to comply with current Web Content Accessibility Guideline standards. Specifically WCAG 2.2 to enable ease of access for Blind or Visually Impaired readers.

 

Then as noted, the whole Enchilada gathered in Florida. When IndyCar held its first Open Test on Sebring’s “short” road course layout February 9-10.

 

Then, ten of the  previous year’s eleven IndyCar teams, excluding Prema Racing sent their transporters off to thee Valley of the Sun one week later. When IndyCar held its second Open test at Phoenix International Raceway. (PIR) Yeah, I know its just Phoenix Raceway or whatever now? But old habits die hard, especially having gone Thar over 30yrs ago for a CART IndyCar race, when Jack Vanilla, ergo Jacques Villeneuve tried taking out the Goodyear pedestrian crossover bridge!

 

VIDEO: 1994 Phoenix Hiro Matsushita Jacques Villeneuve Crash

 

Uhm, IndyCar held court on Phoenix’s 1.0-mile “Crooked” (Dog-leg) Oval between February 17-18, with new & improved Flintstone front tyres.

 

Interesting how IndyCar and Formula 1 pre-season testing overlapped, before IndyCar’s St Pete season opener on March 1st. Where ’Ol DJ WillyP’, ergo Will Power hop to be celebrating His 45th birthday in style with another trophy!

 

Then Formula 1 heads Down Under to Bloody Melbourne on March 8th for its season’s kickoff Australian Grand Prix. Where everyone whose got Apple TV will be curious over the new fangled F1 machinery…

 

And saying What About Me? MotoGP kicked off its season in Thailand on March 1st at Chang International Circuit in Buriram, another “Tilkie”, ergo Herman Tilke designed race course.

 

Oh yeah, almost forgot. Wasn’t that worth the wait to find out Romain Grosjean is Dale Coyne’s second driver?