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This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
The 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship has begun as a season marked by fundamental revisions to both technical and financial regulations and historic changes in team structures. The primary objectives of the new rules include enhancing competition, achieving sustainability goals, and attracting major automotive manufacturers to the sport. The championship will be held on an expanded and geographically optimized calendar featuring 24 races across five continents.
Formula 1 world champions (AA)
With the 2026 season, Formula 1 cars have undergone comprehensive reductions and updates in their physical structure, aerodynamic properties, and safety standards. According to the new-generation car concept approved by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), vehicles are designed to be more compact. In this direction, the wheelbase, previously 3600 millimetres, has been reduced to 3400 millimetres, and the car width has been decreased from 2000 millimetres to 1900 millimetres. Additionally, a 150-millimetre reduction has been applied to the floor width. The overall length of the cars has been shortened by 20 centimetres and the width by 10 centimetres.
Safety standards have been further enhanced in parallel with these dimensional changes. New-generation cars now feature two-stage front impact structures and improved side intrusion protection systems. The load-bearing capacity of the roll hoop has been increased from 16G to 20G. To improve visibility and safety, the endplate lights on the rear wing have been made significantly brighter. FIA’s Single-Seater Director Nikolas Tombazis described the new regulations as a “moderate revolution” and emphasized that the cars have been developed in full alignment with Formula 1’s core DNA.
One of the most notable innovations of the 2026 season is the radical redesign of power units. The power distribution between the internal combustion engine (ICE) and electrical energy has been balanced at a 50-50 ratio, significantly increasing reliance on electric power. Under the new engine regulations, the 1.6-litre V6 turbo configuration remains unchanged in terms of rev limits, but the Motor Energy Recovery System (MGU-H), deemed too complex and costly and thus a barrier to new manufacturers, has been entirely removed from the system. The fuel flow rate of the internal combustion engine has been reduced, with a total power output target of approximately 400 kW.
The previous power output range of 738 to 751 horsepower (hp) from the internal combustion engine has been reduced to 536 hp under the new rules. In contrast, the electric motor’s power has increased dramatically by approximately 300 percent, rising from 161 hp to 469 hp. Mercedes HPP Managing Director Hywel Thomas stated that no component has been carried over from previous engines and that every element—from hardware to software and fuel—has been re-evaluated from scratch. It has been emphasized that the efficiency of the electrical system will be the most critical factor in determining 2026 car lap times and that the duration for which power can be sustained will directly impact performance.
In line with the sport’s commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, all teams are now required to use 100 percent sustainable synthetic fuels derived from non-food sources or waste. Although some discussions arose during the rule-making process about reverting to atmospheric V10 or V8 engines, the decision to retain the hybrid format was made due to road car manufacturers abandoning these technologies and brands like Mercedes supporting only technologies compatible with road vehicles.
The cost control and attractive technical structure provided by the new regulations have attracted new major automotive manufacturers to the sport. The engine supplier pairings for the 2026 grid have been reshuffled. McLaren, Mercedes, Williams, and Alpine teams have opted to continue with Mercedes power units. Ferrari continues to supply its own engines, and Haas has also retained the Ferrari power unit. Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls (VCARB) have transitioned to the “Red Bull-Ford” power units developed through their strategic partnership with Ford. Honda, having withdrawn from the sport, remains as the sole power unit supplier for Aston Martin. Audi joins the grid with its own factory team and its own engine, while new entrant Cadillac has agreed to use Ferrari power units in its initial years.
The Formula 1 grid has expanded to 22 cars with the addition of an 11th team for the first time in many years. The application led by Andretti Global, a joint venture between General Motors and TWG Motorsports, was approved following commercial evaluations by the FIA and Formula 1 management, and the team has entered the championship as Cadillac Formula 1 Team. General Motors established a new company, GM Performance Power Units LLC, for this project, appointing Russ O’Blenes as CEO. The team will begin racing in 2026 using a customer engine (Ferrari) and will transition into a full factory team using its own GM power units from the 2029 season onward. Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem stated that the entry of iconic American brands like GM and Cadillac will significantly enhance the global growth of the championship. GM CEO Mark Reuss and TWG Global CEO Dan Towriss described this entry as the beginning of a new and bold era for American motorsport.
Another major transformation on the grid is the full acquisition of the Sauber team by Audi. The Swiss team will compete under the name Audi, with sponsorship from British financial technology firm Revolut. The team, featuring a new car design in black, red, and silver, is led by Jonathan Wheatley. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner aims for the team to compete for championships by 2030, while Audi F1 Project Leader Mattia Binotto acknowledged that immediate success at the top will not be possible in 2026. Reports indicate that Audi has halted development of its 2026 engine to focus on the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
Record-breaking sponsorship developments have also occurred. Haas has ended its agreement with Moneygram and announced Toyota Gazoo Racing as its primary sponsor. McLaren, for the first time since 2013, has sold its naming rights, signing a deal worth approximately $100 million annually with Mastercard; McLaren CEO Zak Brown emphasized this as the largest partnership in the club’s history.
Cadillac’s driver lineup consists of two experienced drivers with extensive backgrounds. Sergio Perez, who left Red Bull at the end of 2024 and took a break from racing to evaluate his future, and Valtteri Bottas, who served as a reserve driver for Mercedes after departing Sauber, have both returned to Formula 1 at age 35 with Cadillac. Bottas described the project as more than just a racing team—it is a long-term vision—while Perez expressed pride in joining such a dynamic team representing the American continent.
Audi has assigned its driver seats to experienced German driver Nico Hülkenberg and young talent Gabriel Bortoleto. In Visa Cash App Racing Bulls (VCARB), Arvid Lindblad, the 20th member of the Red Bull Junior Team to reach Formula 1, joins Liam Lawson. Lindblad, who has aimed to compete in this sport since the age of five, has chosen the number 41, which had never been used in a race by a full-time driver under the permanent numbering system and had only been used in practice sessions by Isack Hadjar and Susie Wolff. Another significant number change comes from four-time world champion Max Verstappen. Verstappen has abandoned the number 33 he has used for years and adopted number 3, long associated with his former teammate Daniel Ricciardo, as his race number for the 2026 season. Lando Norris continues to race with number 4.
The budget cap, introduced in 2021 to balance competition and ensure team viability, has been restructured for the 2026 season. Previously set at $135 million, the cap has been raised to $215 million USD (approximately £159.6 million). FIA officials explained that the increase is primarily due to accumulated global inflation and the inclusion of previously excluded cost categories within the $215 million limit. Teams are now entirely free in their spending strategies, with full autonomy over how resources are allocated among personnel, and the system has been designed to be self-regulating.
To achieve consensus on the regulations, the FIA and Formula 1 management granted teams various concessions. Although the ideal framework included five to six exclusions, the number was expanded to 20–25 to secure team support. Thanks to the value added to the sport’s ecosystem by the budget cap, team commercial values have surged dramatically—for example, McLaren’s valuation has reached $4.1 billion. Past procedural breaches, such as those committed by Aston Martin in the 2024 season, have led teams to approach budget audits with far greater caution in the new era.
Formula 1 2026 calendar (AA)
The 2026 race calendar has been specifically optimized to reduce logistical burdens from intercontinental travel and support sustainability goals. The season opens with the race in Melbourne, Australia. The most significant change in the European leg is the relocation of the Spanish Grand Prix from Barcelona to Madrid. A long-term agreement with Madrid authorities has led to the construction of a new street circuit, targeting a capacity of 110,000 spectators in its early years and 140,000 thereafter. This major event is expected to contribute €450 million (approximately $489.92 million) annually to Madrid’s economy and create 8,200 new jobs.
Although the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona has lost its status as the host of the Spanish Grand Prix, it remains on the calendar. Organizers have officially registered the second Spanish race of 2026 as the “Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.” Meanwhile, the Dutch Grand Prix is scheduled to be removed from the calendar after the 2026 season. Countries such as Portugal, Germany, Argentina, Rwanda, South Africa, Nigeria, Thailand, South Korea, and Türkiye are reported to be actively lobbying for inclusion.
To enrich the race weekend format, Formula 1 management has fixed the number of sprint races at six, with specific rules attached. Locations hosting sprint races include Italy, Spain, Azerbaijan, Singapore, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. To enhance predictability, sprint races have a strict 90-minute completion window, with a maximum allowable extension of 30 minutes in case of stoppages. To increase on-track competition and overtaking opportunities, the DRS (Drag Reduction System) activation zone has been moved from the third sector to the second. Additionally, for safety reasons, if a race is restarted behind the safety car in heavy rain and the safety car remains on track for more than one lap, teams are required to use wet-weather tyres.
The 2026 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix was held on 8 March 2026 at the 5.2-kilometre Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne, Australia, over 58 laps. This race marked the first round of the new era featuring hybrid power units and updated battery energy usage regulations. Mercedes driver George Russell emerged victorious. The race was shaped by several drivers retiring due to accidents, the direct impact of the new power management rules on overtaking, and contrasting pit stop strategies employed by teams.
George Russell (AA)
During the weekend’s qualifying sessions, Mercedes driver George Russell set the fastest lap, securing pole position with a 0.8-second advantage over his closest rival. Red Bull driver Max Verstappen failed to complete Q1 after losing control of his car and colliding with the barriers. He started the race from 20th on the grid. Approximately half an hour before the race start, McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who was entering the grid from the pit lane, lost control of his car due to an abrupt power surge while crossing the kerbs at Turn 4 and crashed into the barriers. As a result, the Australian driver was unable to participate in the race on home soil. Meanwhile, Audi driver Nico Hülkenberg, who was expected to start from the pit lane, also failed to take the start.
1. Australian GP Infographic (Generated by AI)
The majority of drivers on the starting grid opted for medium compound tyres. Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz started on soft tyres, while Franco Colapinto and Valtteri Bottas began the race on hard compounds. After the lights went out, pole sitter George Russell made a slow start. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, who had a strong start from fourth position, overtook Russell into Turn 1 to take the lead. Lewis Hamilton, the other Ferrari driver, climbed to third place before the end of the first lap.
In the opening laps, frequent lead changes occurred due to the new 2026 regulations allowing short bursts of “extra power” and “overtake mode.” On lap two, Russell used additional electrical energy to pass Leclerc between Turns 10 and 11 and assumed the lead. However, on lap three, Leclerc reclaimed the position using the same strategy approaching Turn 9. Russell launched another attack on lap eight, retaking first place and beginning to extend his lead. Alpine driver Franco Colapinto, who committed a procedure violation at the start, was investigated and handed a stop-go penalty.
On lap 12, the first Virtual Safety Car (VSC) period was triggered after Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar retired due to smoke emanating from the rear of his car. During this period, Mercedes opted to pit both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli simultaneously to minimise time loss. Ferrari, by contrast, stuck to a one-stop strategy, keeping Leclerc and Hamilton on track, thereby securing the first two positions.
Around lap 17 or 18, a second VSC was deployed after Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas suffered a mechanical failure on the grass at the pit entry. Ferrari drivers again chose not to pit during this period and waited for green flag conditions. They were brought into the pits on lap 20 under normal racing conditions. Leclerc pitted on lap 25 and rejoined in 14th place, 14 seconds behind leader Russell. Despite having fresher tyres, he was unable to close the gap to the Mercedes drivers. Hamilton pitted three laps after his teammate. A third brief VSC period was later triggered when a component detached from Sergio Perez’s car.
Max Verstappen Crash from Grandstand | AusGP 2026 (Rajo Outdoors)
Eighteen-year-old Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad, who holds the record as the youngest British driver to compete in Formula 1, overtook Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap and briefly climbed to third. In the second half of the race, Lindblad was overtaken by Haas driver Oliver Bearman but held off late challenges from Gabriel Bortoleto to finish eighth in his debut race and score points. Bearman finished seventh, Bortoleto, racing for Audi, came ninth, and Alpine driver Pierre Gasly completed the race in tenth.
Max Verstappen, who started from the back of the grid due to his qualifying crash, climbed to sixth place using a medium tyre strategy and a series of overtakes. Aston Martin struggled with pace: Fernando Alonso retired after entering and exiting the pits for data collection, while his teammate Lance Stroll finished 17th, 15 laps down. Sergio Perez, driving for Cadillac, ended the race in 16th place.
Serhan Acar's Commentary: F1 2026 Australian GP Race Summary (BeinSportsTürkiye)
1. Australian GP Results (Generated by AI)
After completing 58 laps, Mercedes driver George Russell won the race in a time of 1 hour 23 minutes 6.801 seconds, earning 25 points. His teammate, Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli, finished second, 2.974 seconds behind. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc completed the podium in third, 15.519 seconds behind Russell, while his teammate Lewis Hamilton finished fourth, 16.144 seconds behind. McLaren driver Lando Norris came fifth.
In the Constructors’ Championship, Mercedes led with 43 points, followed by Ferrari with 27, McLaren with 10, Red Bull Racing with 8, and Haas with 6. It has been announced that the second race of the season will be the Chinese Grand Prix, held in sprint format at the Shanghai International Circuit.
2026 Formula 1 World Championship's second race weekend, the Chinese Grand Prix, was held at the 5.4-kilometre Shanghai International Circuit in China between 13 and 15 March 2026. The race, consisting of 56 laps, was won by Italian driver Kimi Antonelli of the Mercedes team.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli (AA)
Four drivers failed to start the race before the formation lap. McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were unable to participate due to independent electrical unit failures in their cars. Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto was withdrawn to the garage minutes before the start due to a technical issue, while Williams driver Alex Albon was withdrawn by team decision due to severe handling problems.
Starting from pole position, Kimi Antonelli lost the lead at the start to Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton, while the other Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc moved up to third. On lap two, Antonelli overtook Hamilton and regained the lead. In the early laps, George Russell passed both Leclerc and Hamilton to take second place, placing the first two positions under Mercedes control.
2nd Chinese GP infographic (generated by artificial intelligence)
On lap 10, a battery failure caused Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll to stop on track, triggering a safety car period. During this phase, both Mercedes and Ferrari teams executed double pit stops. Alpine driver Franco Colapinto and Haas driver Esteban Ocon, who did not pit, temporarily rose to the upper positions.
After the safety car restart, Antonelli retained the lead, while Russell struggled with tyre warming issues and blockages, dropping behind Hamilton and Leclerc.
In the middle stages, a prolonged battle unfolded between Ferrari drivers Hamilton and Leclerc. On lap 24, Leclerc moved into second place, but in subsequent laps, George Russell passed both Ferrari drivers to reclaim second position. On lap 34, Hamilton permanently overtook his teammate Leclerc to take third. A brief yellow flag period was displayed after contact between Alpine drivers Esteban Ocon and Franco Colapinto in the latter part of the circuit.
On lap 33, Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso voluntarily retired from the race due to intense vibrations from the Honda power unit causing loss of sensation in his hands and feet. Starting eighth, Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, who had experienced grip issues during the race, was instructed by team radio to pit with approximately 10 laps remaining and failed to finish.
2nd Chinese GP (AA)
Kimi Antonelli won the race in a time of 1 hour 33 minutes 15.607 seconds, securing his first Formula 1 Grand Prix victory. At 19 years old, Antonelli became the second youngest driver in F1 history to win a race and the first Italian to win a Grand Prix in 20 years. George Russell finished second, giving Mercedes a double podium in Shanghai, while Lewis Hamilton took third, earning Ferrari its first podium of his career.
Breath-Taking Battle in Shanghai! | F1 2026 Chinese GP Race Summary 🏁(Beinsports)
Charles Leclerc finished fourth, while Haas driver Oliver Bearman came fifth.
Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto finished sixth and tenth respectively, securing double points for their team. Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls finished seventh, Isack Hadjar of Red Bull finished eighth, and Carlos Sainz of Williams finished ninth after a long stint on hard tyres, earning points.
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen criticized the 2026 technical regulations, stating that the new cars' driving dynamics resembled playing "Mario Kart" and failed to deliver a realistic racing experience. Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff countered that Verstappen's complaints likely stemmed largely from the aerodynamic and handling challenges specific to the Red Bull car, noting that other teams did not face the same issues and that the Chinese Grand Prix offered an exciting and competitive race for viewers.
After the Chinese Grand Prix, George Russell led the Drivers' Championship with 51 points, followed by Kimi Antonelli with 47 points. Charles Leclerc was third with 34 points and Lewis Hamilton fourth with 33 points. In the Constructors' Championship, Mercedes led with 98 points, Ferrari was second with 67 points, McLaren third with 18 points, and Haas fourth with 17 points. It was also announced in the season calendar updates that the originally scheduled races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled due to regional security concerns. The third race of the season will be the Japanese Grand Prix.
Kimi Antonelli (AA)
The third race weekend of the 2026 Formula 1 Season, the Japanese Grand Prix, was held on 29 March 2026 at the Suzuka Circuit. The race, covering 53 laps on the 5.8-kilometre track, concluded with the victory of Mercedes’ young driver Kimi Antonelli. At 19 years old, Antonelli secured his second consecutive win following the Chinese Grand Prix and became the youngest championship leader in Formula 1 history.
The qualifying sessions to determine the starting grid took place on 28 March 2026. In the first session (Q1), the initial reference lap was set by Haas driver Esteban Ocon at 1:31.466 after the pit lane lights turned green. In the later minutes of the session, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc topped the session with a time of 1:29.915. The drivers eliminated in this session were Alex Albon, Oliver Bearman, Sergio Perez, Valtteri Bottas, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
In the second session (Q2), although Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc posted leading laps, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli ended the session at the top with a time of 1:29.048. A notable development was the elimination of Red Bull driver Max Verstappen; alongside him, Esteban Ocon, Nico Hülkenberg, Liam Lawson, Franco Colapinto and Carlos Sainz also failed to advance to Q3.
In the third session (Q3), Kimi Antonelli claimed pole position with a time of 1:28.778. His teammate George Russell secured second place, 0.298 seconds behind, while McLaren driver Oscar Piastri finished third. Charles Leclerc was fourth, Lando Norris fifth, and Lewis Hamilton, who received a warning for exiting the pit lane slowly during the session, qualified sixth.
The Japanese Grand Prix began 10 minutes later than scheduled due to barrier repairs at Turn 12 caused by an incident in a support series. All grid positions except that of Valtteri Bottas, who started 20th and opted for hard tyres, began the race on medium compound (yellow-logo) tyres.
At the start, the Mercedes drivers, who shared the front row, experienced acceleration issues. Oscar Piastri, starting third, made an outside attack and entered Turn 1 in the lead. Charles Leclerc moved into second place, while Kimi Antonelli, who dropped behind, overtook Lewis Hamilton before the end of the first lap to climb to fifth.
By lap eight, George Russell passed Oscar Piastri to take the lead, but Piastri quickly regained the position using his Attack Mode. During the first round of pit stops beginning on lap 17, Leclerc and Piastri entered the pits, allowing the Mercedes drivers to temporarily occupy the top two positions.
Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix driver Andre Kimi Antonelli (AA)
On lap 21, Haas driver Oliver Bearman lost control of his car at the Spoon Curve, Turn 13, at a speed of 306 km/h and crashed into the barriers, bringing out the Safety Car. The crash, which subjected Bearman to 50G forces, was attributed to the new energy management regulations of the 2026 season, specifically to a speed differential of approximately 50 km/h between Alpine driver Franco Colapinto and Bearman, combined with Bearman misjudging the gap while using his “boost” to overtake. The Safety Car period allowed Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton, who had not yet pitted, to make their stops, enabling Antonelli to assume the race lead.
After the Safety Car returned to the pits, Lewis Hamilton passed George Russell to claim third place. However, Hamilton suffered a significant loss of power that was undetected during the race’s second phase, preventing him from maintaining his pace. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll received a team order to retire due to a technical issue.
With 10 laps remaining, Charles Leclerc passed the struggling Hamilton to move into third. In subsequent laps, Russell and Lando Norris also overtook Hamilton. During the battle between Norris and Hamilton, Hamilton’s cutting of the chicane was noted by the stewards but no penalty was applied.
After 53 laps, Kimi Antonelli crossed the finish line first with a total time of 1 hour 28 minutes and 3.403 seconds. Oscar Piastri finished second, 13.722 seconds behind, securing his first podium of the season. Charles Leclerc came third, 15.270 seconds behind Antonelli. The top 10 were completed by George Russell, Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, Pierre Gasly, Max Verstappen, Liam Lawson and Esteban Ocon.
This race in Japan highlighted the varying levels of adaptation among teams to the new regulations. McLaren’s surprise podium result was explained by the high grip offered by the resurfaced track, which compensated for the team’s chassis disadvantages, as well as their efficient use of the Mercedes power unit’s advantages. Ferrari maintained its strength in cornering speeds but struggled on straights and in energy recovery.
Kimi Antonelli in first, Oscar Piastri in second, Charles Leclerc in third (AA)
At Mercedes, Antonelli’s victory contrasted with Lewis Hamilton’s criticism of his car’s performance, as he reported failing to extract the expected energy from the battery and power unit. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar stated that his RB22 suffered from chassis deficiencies and early battery depletion, forcing him to finish the race in 12th place.
Following the Japanese Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli moved to the top of the drivers’ standings with 72 points.
His teammate George Russell is second with 63 points, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc third with 49 points, Lewis Hamilton fourth with 41 points, and Lando Norris fifth with 25 points.
In the constructors’ championship, Mercedes continues to lead with 135 points. Ferrari is second with 90 points, and McLaren third with 46 points. Haas has 18 points, while Alpine and Red Bull are tied with 16 points each.
The 2026 Miami Grand Prix is a motorsport race held on the 5.4-kilometre International Miami Circuit in the state of Florida, United States, as the fourth round of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship season. The race, consisting of 57 laps, was held on 3 May 2026 and was won by 19-year-old Italian driver Kimi Antonelli of the Mercedes team.
4. Miami GP (1–3 May) (AA)
Due to forecasts of severe thunderstorms and lightning threats in the region, the race start time was moved from 16:00 local time to 13:00 local time (20:00 Türkiye time). This decision, jointly made by the FIA and organisers, aimed to ensure the safety of drivers, spectators and personnel under regulations requiring race suspension in case of lightning. Additionally, a “rain risk” protocol was activated when the probability of rain exceeded 40 percent, granting teams permission to increase ride height and adjust front wing angles.
Many teams introduced car updates for this race. Red Bull participated with aerodynamic fine-tuning and steering modifications. McLaren and Ferrari implemented comprehensive vehicle changes, while Williams used for the first time a package featuring weight-saving measures and aerodynamic improvements. Alpine targeted a breakthrough in the midfield with a revised nose, updated brake ducts and a completely new rear wing. Aston Martin introduced new components designed to resolve vibration issues in the car.
Starting from pole position, Kimi Antonelli and second-placed Max Verstappen both experienced brake lock-ups and went off-track at the first corner. As a result, third-placed Charles Leclerc took the race lead, while Antonelli moved to second and Verstappen dropped to ninth. At the same time, Oscar Piastri rose to fourth, and a minor contact occurred between Franco Colapinto and Lewis Hamilton.
4. Miami GP (1–3 May) (AA)
On lap five, Kimi Antonelli overtook Charles Leclerc to assume the race lead. Shortly after, Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar crashed into the barriers at turns 14 and 15 and retired from the race. Almost simultaneously, Alpine driver Pierre Gasly spun and crashed after contact with Liam Lawson. In response, the Safety Car was deployed. During the Safety Car period, Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas made pit stops, while Nico Hülkenberg retired due to a mechanical failure.
The Safety Car period ended around lap 12. Upon the restart, Antonelli outpaced Leclerc in the battle for the lead. Light rain showers were observed on track during subsequent laps. On lap 26, the Mercedes team brought Kimi Antonelli in for an early pit stop using the undercut strategy. Lando Norris pitted one lap later, but Antonelli’s faster out-lap allowed him to retain the lead over the British driver.
In the closing stages, Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc competed for third place on the podium. Piastri overtook Leclerc on the penultimate lap. On the final lap, Leclerc spun and made contact with the barriers, but continued racing despite damage to the car’s steering system. He gained time by cutting corners during this period. Driving the damaged car, Leclerc was overtaken by George Russell and Max Verstappen just before the checkered flag.
4. Miami GP (1–3 May) (AA)
In accordance with the 2026 season’s rule requiring detailed post-race reviews instead of immediate decisions in disputed situations, penalties were announced after the race. Based on analysis of camera angles and driver statements, the following decisions were made:
4. Miami GP (1–3 May) (AA)
Kimi Antonelli finished the race in first place with a time of 1 hour 33 minutes 19.273 seconds, securing his third consecutive victory of the season. After applying the penalties, the updated top 10 results were as follows:
Following the Miami Grand Prix, the Formula 1 World Championship standings were updated. Kimi Antonelli extended his lead in the drivers’ standings with 100 points.
The 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship has ushered in a new era with major changes to car designs power units and financial regulations. The cars' wheelbase and width have been reduced the proportion of electrical energy in the power units has been increased to 50 percent and the transition to 100 percent sustainable synthetic fuels has been implemented while the teams' spending cap has been raised to 215 million dollars. Cadillac within General Motors joined the grid as the 11th team with driver line-up of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas while the Sauber team has been fully transformed into an Audi factory team. In this season Max Verstappen the four time world champion began racing with number 3 instead of his former number. The VCARB team added rookie Arvid Lindblad #41 alongside Liam Lawson. The calendar which consists of 24 races including six sprint races has been expanded with the new Spanish Grand Prix held in Madrid while the race at the Barcelona circuit continues under the name Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
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March 8, 2026
Innovations and Changes
March 8, 2026
Calendar, New Circuits and Sprint Races
March 8, 2026
Teams and Drivers
March 8, 2026
1. Australian GP (6–8 March)
March 16, 2026
2. Chinese GP (13–15 March)
March 30, 2026
3. Japanese GP (27–29 March)
May 5, 2026
4. Miami GP (1–3 May)