Lando Norris is the defending champion heading into the brand new System 1 season.
Lando Norris enters 2026 because the defending System 1 champion (Picture: Getty)
Defending champion Lando Norris and four-time System 1 title-winner Max Verstappen have been each missed as Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert named their “darkish horse” for the 2026 title. Oscar Piastri was additionally not on condition that tag, which means the 2 British former F1 racers each consider a driver who was not within the high three final 12 months may be finest positioned for the crown this time period.
Norris was declared world champion for the primary time in December, with a podium end on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which was sufficient to make sure Verstappen’s late-season cost can be for nothing. He beat the Crimson Bull racer to the title by simply two factors, whereas Piastri was third within the standings regardless of having spent six months on the high of the pile earlier within the 12 months.
It means nothing by way of what’s to return, although, with new engine and aerodynamic design guidelines threatening to shake up the grid. No-one is aware of what the true stability of energy will probably be when the lights exit on the season opener in Melbourne originally of March. The paddock’s finest guesses have instructed Mercedes may very well be those to beat, given their previous file of adapting swiftly to engine rule adjustments.
If that occurs, three-time F1 race-winner Herbert can see George Russell being the person to beat. “I am most likely going to go Mercedes, as a result of I believe, as a partnership in the meanwhile, I believe it is working very effectively. I believe [Kimi] Antonelli has most likely obtained to enhance on his consistency, that is most likely his weak spot in the meanwhile,” he mentioned on the Keep on Monitor podcast.
“George has completed a superb job for them. I am certain they will be on the sharp finish combating for race wins and doubtlessly the championship. I let you know what, I’ll go George.”
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And Herbert added: “Yeah, I believe they’re. And Antonelli proved quite a bit final 12 months, I believe he will probably be stronger as effectively. And if the automobile is a automobile that is going to be the dominant power, they’ve the appropriate pairing from a constructors’ perspective as effectively. I believe it may very well be a double win for them.”
It stays not possible to say whether or not Mercedes will stay as much as the hype, and Russell has been eager to minimize the noise surrounding his and his group’s possibilities. “I would be a idiot to say I am placing all my cash on Mercedes,” the Brit informed German outlet Auto Motor und Sport, although he did go on to confess: “Mercedes has been the benchmark on this space for a few years.”
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