Overview
- Eight team principals took part in the end‑of‑season ballot, with Max Verstappen ranked No. 1 for a fifth straight year ahead of champion Lando Norris, followed by Oscar Piastri, George Russell, Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc, Oliver Bearman, Isack Hadjar and Nico Hulkenberg.
- McLaren closed 2025 with 833 points, 14 wins and the constructors’ title, as Norris sealed his maiden crown by two points over Verstappen after a season‑long fight that went to Abu Dhabi.
- Ferrari shifted aero focus to its 2026 car in April and plans a reliability‑led, two‑spec approach for pre‑season running, with an initial behind‑closed‑doors test in Barcelona before Bahrain sessions on February 11‑13 and 18‑20, prioritizing mileage over peak performance.
- Reports from Italy indicate encouraging bench results for Ferrari’s next‑gen hybrid power unit, alongside a redesigned steering wheel to manage energy deployment and a front‑suspension concept that has reportedly passed FIA scrutiny.
- Vasseur cautioned that Australia’s result will not define 2026, while former Haas boss Guenther Steiner suggested Hamilton’s post‑2026 future could hinge on Ferrari delivering a truly competitive car.