McLaren's 2026 Formula One car in pre-season testing. Photo / AFP
The 2026 Formula One season gets underway in Melbourne this Sunday with McLaren’s Lando Norris looking to retain his world championship title while Max Verstappen aims to rip it back off him.
Predictions are difficult to make ahead of the 24-race season, which is scheduled to finish in Abu Dhabi at the start of December, because of the sweeping changes in chassis and engine regulations.
But the clash between favourites could provide one of the most fascinating seasons yet.
AFP Sport picks out five things to look out for in the pit lane:
The fingers have been pointing, the accusations made - and nobody has stepped forward to admit that, yes, they were “sandbagging”. That’s the pit lane parlance for dialling back on performance in pre-season testing.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took aim at Mercedes.
“Just wait until Melbourne and see how much power they suddenly find ... see how fast they suddenly go on all the straights,” said the four-time champion.
Meanwhile, Williams boss James Vowles put the spotlight back on Red Bull in Bahrain, suggesting that “games are being played” when their pace suddenly slowed.
It is, of course, only normal to try and conceal an advantage, no matter how tiny, for when they line up in Melbourne, but this is just the first of the many rows which are bound to erupt during this first season under new rules.
Watch out: the Americans are coming! First it was Haas joining the grid in 2016 and now it is Cadillac, one of the most famous names in the auto business, who are angling to set the “standard of the world”.
It’s not quite their first foray into F1, although in 1952 and 1953 they provided engines only and failed to make the start in two editions of the Indy 500 - which counted as part of the world championship.
As new boys, the General Motors-financed team will be relying on experience in the cockpit, where Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez will launch the team, and under the bonnet.
This is 2026. 👊 pic.twitter.com/VGf3PP8hZ0
— Cadillac Formula 1 Team (@Cadillac_F1) February 25, 2026
Cadillac will not be making their own power units until 2029 so will be relying on Ferrari until then.
“I firmly believe we’ve got a platform that, as a team, we can really start moving forward on,” said team principal Graeme Lowdon in the pre-season.
“That’s probably the most that you could ever ask for from a new team, unless there’s some complete miracle.”
Another new team to look out for is Audi,who have a rich history in motorsport - winners of Le Mans, the Dakar Rally and the World Rally Championship - but are dipping their toes in the F1 waters for the first time.
The German team acquired the Sauber slot and have retained the driving skills of veteran Nico Hulkenberg, who finally got his first podium last season at Silverstone after 15 years and 239 races, and 21-year-old Gabriel Bortoleto.
Audi had a good pre-season workout and may surprise a few people, although team principal Jonathan Wheatley is making no promises.
“We have no illusions about the amount of work remaining or the level of competition we will face in Melbourne,” he said after testing in Sakhir.
At 18 years and 212 days by the time the lights go on in Melbourne, Arvid Lindblad will become the fourth-youngest driver of all-time to make his F1 debut, behind Verstappen, Lance Stroll and Kimi Antonelli.
The teenager, who will compete as a Briton but also has Swedish and Indian heritage through his parents, will be in the Racing Bulls seat with Liam Lawson.
He is the sole rookie on the grid this season but comes with pedigree: he won three races in Formula 2 in 2025 - two of them as a 17-year-old - and has been on Red Bull’s radar since he was 12.
He was disarmingly frank in January about his feelings with regard to his readiness to making the step up.
“I don’t know. I mean, I’ve got a lot to learn. If I’m entirely ready, I don’t know,” he told F1 TV.
Lawblad and their livery 🫶#F1 #VCARB pic.twitter.com/eeuCwc2zMG
— Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team (@visacashapprb) January 16, 2026
At the other end of the age spectrum, Fernando Alonso, 44, and Lewis Hamilton, 41, may be duking it out for the last time in F1.
Alonso, who won both his world titles before Lindblad was born, is in the last year of his contract with Aston Martin, whose sputtering pre-season does not bode well.
Hamilton, also in the last year of his contract with Ferrari, had a terrible season last year but is full of fight again as he seeks an eighth world title.
“I know what needs to be done. This is going to be one hell of a season!” he posted.