F1 2026

[asl02]

Not sure that Piastri will ever get a better chance of winning a championship than he did last year. Absolutely blew it in that awful run he had between Baku and Vegas and nowhere near as convinced as others that he has a higher ceiling than Norris either.

Worst thing he could’ve done, by far the best car on the grid for probably 2/3 (minimum half) of the season. If it comes down to a 1-2 driver situation in future any team out there would choose the champion over the race winner. Your teammate winning the championship is meant to be the worst thing possible to happen to you, considering he blew it for himself the next best thing for him (imo) would’ve been Verstappen winning it (this is what I was trying to get at earlier but I must’ve worded it horrifically if no one got what I meant ).

God I remember James Allen. Toasted Robert Kubica’s first (sadly only) appearance on the top step with the line “well, he’s no Brad Pitt.”

Not sure if wasted talent is a suitable term given the circumstances, but if it wasn’t for that rallying crash he would’ve been a very successful driver in competitive machinery. Biggest what if in formula 1 imo.

 

[Maravilla]

Allen for his faults could read a race and had quite good technical knowledge. This clown? I dont even know what he brings.

Fantastic

Allen had the misfortune of replacing Murray Walker and anyone who did that was always going to be on a hiding to nothing. He wasn't great but was so much better than Jonathan bloody Legard and the less said about Croft the better.

 

[Mace]

Allen had the misfortune of replacing Murray Walker and anyone who did that was always going to be on a hiding to nothing. He wasn't great but was so much better than Jonathan bloody Legard and the less said about Croft the better.

Jonathan Legard

"Up the hill he goes" "Alonso on a charge now"

 

[Nasser Butt-Head]

Russell best not twist about qualifying woes being the reason Kimi beat his this weekend, he had more than enough chance to handle Kimi today and just simply didnt

Looking forward to more celebrations between Kimi and Lewis witj George looking like a right awkward third wheel

Brilliant.

Throughly enjoyed today's race. Gerrin Lewis!! Proper rolled back the years today. Showed everyone what they've been missing lately, his racecraft.

Well done to Kimi aswell. Better launch and controlled drive.

As much as Merc are dominant, I thought that Ferrari were much closer on race pace than Melbourne. Just look at Russell twisting that the Ferrari's didn't let him by 'your car is at least 30 kph at the end of the straight mate!' Can't have it through the corners as well!

I mean the whole weekend was brilliant for Max, loved every second of it. From the spins in practice, shit qualifying, shit start, wrong strategy, shit timing of the safety car, being passed by the midfield, to his retirement. If Carlsberg did weekends...

Special mention for the Rookies and nearly rookies. Bearman, Colapinto, even Linbland. Really good racing at times. Nice to see young blood doing well.

 

[Shady Lane]

Opinions are split on the new regs but we can all agree that cars being able to follow each other closely is a massive improvement!

 

[Brett]

Loved seeing Kimi win , and Lewis back on a podium where he should be

Let's hope Ferrari use these 5 weeks to bridge the gap and we get a proper battle

 

[Beau Peep]

@Mace @Beau Peep @Dexter listen lads, for the last 4-5 years now I’ve wasted god knows how many hours of my spare time bickering with complete strangers on the internet talking about how some random racing driver who doesn’t know I exist (if I died in my sleep tonight he wouldn’t have a clue, not as if I’m close mates/family with him or anything) would go all the way to the top. He finally gets the chance to do so, but then his arse goes straight through the floor with his teammate winning the championship.

That same teammate? I’ve spent even longer talking about how bad he is and how he’ll never win anything. Best believe I’m holding a grudge against him for the forseeable, had the chance to prove me correct but massively does me over. Just let me have my moment in the sun please

For the record I still agree with you! I don't think Norris is any kind of special driver or champion, I think he's quick enough but insipid, and just made fewer mistakes in an imperious car. He's a lot more experienced than Piastri, had the emotional and strategic support from the team, and to give him some credit, just held his arse better.

And he still should have lost it to Verstappen, but for the wanker penalty that dropped him out of the picture in Barcelona!

 

[sunlandlad88]

Yep! I think Max thought he’d get his choice of seat for 2027 but I think Toto has who he wants with Kimi.

Max will be off to either WEC or sports car racing I think

Can see the potential of max ending up at mclaren instead of piastri (possible straight swap)

Would ferrari consider him as lewis replacement? Would leclerc fancy a challenge elsewhere if he finished behind lewis this year?

Lots of questions still to be answered but I'm behind antonelli in the merc battle, and love the fact ferrari are letting the lads race as that made today's race

 

[Beau Peep]

Croft remarked that Antonelli's father had been with Antonelli for the whole of his career. Yeah, no shit, Dave

 

[Neautral]

Croft remarked that Antonelli's father had been with Antonelli for the whole of his career. Yeah, no shit, Dave

My biggest annoyance with Croft is his assumption everyone likes the same drivers he does

 

[Beau Peep]

My biggest annoyance with Croft is his assumption everyone likes the same drivers he does

The way he speaks, gives off the distinct impression that he thinks himself, his style and idioms are beloved.

"The old switcheroo, as some people say" he said today. No you bore, only you use that phrase and no, it hasn't remotely caught on.

And he clearly doesn't understand the new cars, since I think it was Leclerc on Hamilton at turn 1, he drew alongside and Croft commentated on it like it was last year, confidently stating "but he's not close enough this time" before he just deployed more energy round the curve and ended up ahead, which everyone but Croft saw coming a mile off.

 

[Aidan11]

Well done Kimi.

 

[Gentwo]

McLaren and Liverpool trying to outdo each others title defence

 

[Maravilla]

The way he speaks, gives off the distinct impression that he thinks himself, his style and idioms are beloved.

"The old switcheroo, as some people say" he said today. No you bore, only you use that phrase and no, it hasn't remotely caught on.

And he clearly doesn't understand the new cars, since I think it was Leclerc on Hamilton at turn 1, he drew alongside and Croft commentated on it like it was last year, confidently stating "but he's not close enough this time" before he just deployed more energy round the curve and ended up ahead, which everyone but Croft saw coming a mile off.

Think even Davidson made some sort of reference at some point about Croft being the only person on Earth to say ‘switcheroo’

 

[Beau Peep]

Hamilton in the cooldown room was beaming with satisfaction and definitely impressed by the bougie aesthetic

Nice to see him happy again, not to mention competitive

 

[Alchemist]

Think even Davidson made some sort of reference at some point about Croft being the only person on Earth to say ‘switcheroo’

Wish it was Davidson and Bernie as the commentary team. Croftys just not got a grip on what's happening and hams it all up with fake drama.

 

[buster]

Hamilton in the cooldown room was beaming with satisfaction and definitely impressed by the bougie aesthetic

Nice to see him happy again, not to mention competitive

#anyonebuthamilton.

 

[errant]

#anyonebuthamilton.

#rentfree

 

[PTR]

As good as the Ferraris are on the starts, the Mercedes race pace blows them out of the water

Has anyone openly addressed this yet - if Ferrari get great starts because they have a smaller turbo, which spins up faster than a large one - then surely it means it doesn't deliver the same about of power one it has spun up.
So the Ferrari will never have the top end power that the Merc (and others) has, surely?

I got up to watch this and I feel the race is now over.

I set my alarm, but forgot that alarm only works weekdays

Verstappen with another terrible start

Was better than his finish!

These Ferraris are fantastic in the turns.
Just a shame that Mercedes straight line pace is so much better.

Could get good once the engines start to get closer?

Hamilton is never getting that podium is he

Well!

Great seeing him on the podium again, and beating Mr Ferrari, Charles. I know Charles dislikes this track and all that, but still - Lewis flat out beat him.

Crofty says you always use a mushroom in Mario kart straight away.

He talks such a massive lorry-load of shit. Someone needs to tech him how to do an analogy, or just stop and let the "colour" commentator do their job of adding the context.

The way these two race is impeccable. They could dance around each other like this all day and not touch. This is what skilful racing looks like, not divebombing past the apex before you even touch the brakes.

Everyone focussing (right so) on the PU's at the moment, but its making for some great sequences of racing.
And the cars seem to be able to battle wheel-to-wheel for the first time since the first half of the ground-effect regs.

I’m assuming the engine the factory team is using is slightly different to the one the customer teams use?

No, that's not allowed.

Ooo that Red bull PU sounds as rough as a badgers bottom.

Oh dear
How sad
Nevermind.

I'd absolutely love it if Russell finally gets a championship car, when you can tell he's very sure of himself and already expecting to run away with this, and his little Italian teammate pips him to it

Tbf, got to tip your hat to him today - rock solid except a tiny lock up when cruising home. Great drive.

 

[Dan The Man]

Just need Ferrari to stay close until
June as I’m sure Merc lose this power advantage when they close this regulatory loophole.

We’ll have one hell of a title battle between the 4