Overview

• Ford’s Mark Rushbrook says the company has expanded beyond hybrid systems to work on Red Bull’s combustion engine, parts production and operational areas for 2026.
• Charles Leclerc says drivers must erase ingrained habits for the radically different cars, while Carlos Sainz expects early confusion before fast adaptation.
• Lewis Hamilton welcomes the challenge, noting increased driver input into power‑unit usage and a steep but motivating learning curve.
• Williams team boss James Vowles reports drivers adapted after multiple simulator sessions and predicts overtaking without DRS via energy deployment and active aero.
• Mercedes’ Toto Wolff concedes the team failed to adapt to the 2022 rules and frames 2026 as a reset, with private running for the new cars slated for January.