The preseason is over. Remember these names: Mercedes, McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari. If the data from the preseason tests are true and not a mere mirage, these four teams will be the main contenders to start the 2026 Formula 1 season in Australia on the right foot. Each one with its small reliability problems, but also with the homework done in the Bahrain tests ahead of the first race of the year. If only Aston Martin could say the same. This is how the last day of testing in Sakhir went.
Ferrari complies in the tests, but Mercedes scares
It is fashionable to analyze the body language of drivers, mechanics and engineers in pre-season tests. Their facial expressions are transparent, more so than political statements to the media. Therefore, seeing Kimi Antonelli so relaxed, making jokes and with a constant smile, says a lot about Mercedes’ future potential in 2026.
Toto Wolff’s team are the real winners of the winter tests, at least in the ranking of laps completed (432 laps). Apart from its stellar engine, the classic ‘sandbagging’ of the German team further fuels its favoritism for a revolutionary 2026 campaign that is about to begin on the other side of the world.
A few final preseason runs that, however, place Ferrari at the top of the standings with the C4 compound, not even with the soft rubber. It is already a tradition that the Maranello team commands each preseason, what then? The Italians have not won since 2007 and Charles Leclerc showed his frustration with the extreme oversteer of the SF-26. Even so, it is undeniable that the red cars will have to be counted on for the first round of the year in Albert Park, as will the Red Bull RB22 of Max Verstappen and the McLaren MCL40 of the current constructors’ champions.
If we look further down the imaginary and indicative table of the 2026 grid, the objective of Carlos Sainz and Williams is realistic for the inaugural Grand Prix in Melbourne: combating the overweight of the FW48 will be essential and approaching the Top 4 (Mercedes, McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari) is a dream. For now, the closest goal is to face the supposed teams in the middle zone (Haas, Alpine, Racing Bulls, and perhaps a surprise guest like Audi). Very soon Car and Driver will speak with the Spanish driver to resolve the last doubts before traveling to Oceania.
Aston Martin – Honda: suspense in the desert
Six laps of installation. This was the filming of the Aston Martin AMR26 on the last day of the preseason: 32 measly kilometers. This is how it will be presented, hopefully, to Australia: without reliability, or power, nor with the guarantee of being able to complete a Grand Prix. Honda repeats the nightmare of 2015, but this time without McLaren involved, although with Fernando Alonso as the main victim once again.
The Silverstone team collected its belongings from Sakhir’s garage ahead of time: it did not even deign to conclude the preseason tests. According to official team sources, the lack of spare parts in the Japanese power unit limited the mileage of the AMR26 for the last day of testing before leaving, God willing, for Albert Park in two weeks. Adrian Newey’s team, on the other hand, preferred to spend their day carrying out simulations on the Honda test bench in Sakura, in order to analyze the battery problem suffered by Fernando Alonso during the afternoon session on Thursday.
In this way, Aston Martin closed its hellish winter with 128 laps in the last week of testing. It is half the running time of Cadillac, a new team in Formula 1. To make matters worse, Audi, together with its new engine, ran three times more than the Japanese engine. Not to mention the Mercedes power unit, the undisputed leader of the tests in terms of lap accumulation. The conclusion: the AMR26 does not need one miracle, but several to solve a catastrophic situation, and there is a certain two-time world champion whose time in the sport is against him. More patience…
