Overview
- FIA detailed the 2026 package with active front and rear wings, three driver controls for boost, overtake and recharge, more compact and lighter cars, a revised floor, faster energy recovery, sustainable fuels and reinforced safety structures.
- LA NACION confirmed pre-season running from January 26–30 in Barcelona and February 11–13 and 18–20 in Bahrain, with the season opening March 8 in Melbourne and Cadillac joining the grid with Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas.
- Max Verstappen said elements of the new rules feel like “gimmicks,” warned cars will be harder to manage due to energy deployment, and urged the FIA to expand post‑race scrutineering beyond the current random checks despite logistical limits.
- Toto Wolff cautioned that Mercedes cannot predict a repeat of 2014, saying targets are on track but the field is highly competitive and any advantage under the new rules remains uncertain.
- McLaren closed 2025 with both championships as rookies Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar and Oliver Bearman stood out, Red Bull promoted Hadjar to partner Verstappen for 2026, and Laurent Mekies replaced Christian Horner midseason.