Overview
- Mercedes has opened the new era with three poles, three 1–2 finishes and three wins in the first three races under the 2026 rules.
- Red Bull’s form has slumped with balance and reliability problems, as Jos Verstappen said Max will “keep going” despite retirement chatter and after news of Gianpiero Lambiase’s 2028 move to McLaren.
- Williams hired longtime Mercedes engineer Dan Milner as Chief of Vehicle Technology to fix the overweight, aero‑weak FW48, with Miami upgrades planned after the April break and Carlos Sainz saying he is close to fully understanding the new car.
- Aston Martin has been called a major disappointment, with Jolyon Palmer arguing Fernando Alonso has been reduced to a “test driver” as the team nurses a fragile package through race weekends.
- Cadillac has improved by finishing recent races and targeting more updates for Miami, with Sergio Pérez saying the team must win the development race to close the gap to the midfield.