Three things to watch ahead of the 2026 F1 season

Lando Norris’ success with McLaren to end Max Verstappen’s four-year reign as world champion on Sunday ushered in a winter of radical change for Formula One.

The 26-year-old Briton’s title win at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix came in the final race before new cars and technical changes arrive in 2026 — and signaled the end of a “win by all means” culture in the sport.

AFP Sport looks at three things to watch next season:

Can Norris continue to have it his way?

Norris said he won the title his own way and with a team that respected its own “papaya rules” of equality under immense pressure.

His triumph caused a wave of emotion not only for his victory, but also for the way he won and then handled the impact of the occasion.

“I feel like I was able to win it the way I wanted to win it, which wasn’t because I’m someone I’m not. I’m not trying to be as aggressive as Max or as strong as other champions might have been in the past — whatever.

“My style (is) just trying to be a good person and a good team member.”

Even Verstappen, seen by many as the natural heir to Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, uncompromising in his “killer” approach to the job, as 1996 champion Damon Hill described it, is softening his style this year.

The departure from Red Bull of long-time and successful team boss Christian Horner has created a less divisive atmosphere in the paddock as well with respect for McLaren’s emphasis on fair racing without team mandates, setting a new trend for the future.

“I’m not proud because I can say I’m a world champion,” Norris added. “I’m proud because I feel like I made a lot of people happy.”

Team-mate Oscar Piastri has shown total respect for McLaren’s rulebook throughout the season, even if at times exasperated by his bad luck, and will again be a strong contender in 2026 with new teams, cars, rules and line-ups.

Mercedes preferred to be strong with a new engine

Mercedes are expected to set the pace next season, having developed a new power unit that many of their rivals believe will start their comeback as the leading team.

The team has been developing and testing for a long time with significant investment in the project and is waiting for Kimi Antonelli, who shone at many points in his rookie season, to step up and challenge George Russell.

Cars will be lighter, smaller and more agile under the new regulations with a weight reduction of 30kg. They will also be shorter and thinner.

Mercedes will supply its own factory team and also McLaren, Williams and Alpine, while Red Bull and sister team Racing Bulls will run Red Bull Powertrains, their own development after the break from Honda.

Ferrari will use its own engines as always and will continue to supply Haas and power the new Cadillac team.

Audi hopes to join as serious contenders

After a mixed 2025 season ended with one podium but only 70 points, Audi — formerly Sauber — hopes to become a serious midfield contender in 2026. They finished ninth ahead of only Alpine in the season just gone.

Audi will have an unchanged driver line-up of Nico Hulkenberg, who started his 250th Grand Prix on Sunday, and Gabriel Bortoleto, while the new boys at Cadillac, bringing plenty of American cash and GM-backed livery, will rely on the experience of Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.

Verstappen will have a new team-mate at Red Bull following Isack Hadjar’s promotion from Racing Bulls following an outstanding rookie season. 18-year-old Briton Arvid Lindblad will take his place alongside Liam Lawson.

The change of era in the new cars was welcomed by many drivers, but most notably by seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton after a dismal debut season at Ferrari. Of his record 105 wins, only two have come since the end of 2021. Teammate Charles Leclerc said the team, without a driver’s title since 2007, faced a “now or never” moment this winter.