Melbourne (AFP) – An “Electric Formula on steroids”, as Verstappen fears? Dominant Mercedes? Relations still tense between Norris and Piastri at McLaren? There are many questions before the first GP of the season of an F1 which has revolutionized its technical regulations.

Published on: 03/05/2026 - 1:15 p.m.

After winter testing which resembled a game of lying poker, four teams seem to have a head start and will show their first cards on Sunday in Melbourne.

A quarter may be a winner, but in what order? Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull accumulated the kilometers without major problems during the testing sessions in Bahrain, but all pass the buck when it comes time to choose a favorite.

The watchword, for everyone, is also to play down this Australian Grand Prix, the first of 24 meetings planned this season. Because it is considered by many first of all as a good opportunity to improve the understanding of these new single-seaters now equipped with a 50% thermal and 50% electric engine.

“Kimi (Antonelli) and I are very happy with the car, which looks good, as does the engine. But we were very surprised by the engines of certain competitors which also seem very efficient,” says Briton George Russell, leader of the Mercedes team, considered by many observers as the one with the best engine block.

Norris optimistic

Same story with McLaren, although it is the double title holder among the constructors and which achieved the double three months ago with the drivers' crown snatched by the Briton Lando Norris.

"We're going to wait and see what happens because the regulations are really different. It would be very optimistic to say that we will have the same level as a year ago. I think we are in the leading pack, but during the tests Mercedes and Ferrari seemed a little ahead of us and Red Bull too", cautiously estimated the local of the stage, Oscar Piastri, who will aim for a first victory at home on Sunday on the Albert Park track.

Norris, for his part, was optimistic even if he does not expect to be in front and he showed his long-term vision.

"Even if we are the second, third or fourth fastest, I don't think we can say that it's a bad start. It's still a good position. In recent years, it wasn't easy to improve the car during the season, but we proved that it was possible. And it will still be a long, very long time," stressed the Englishman.

Quadruple world champion Max Verstappen, a fierce critic of the new regulations which, according to him, have transformed Formula 1 into (electric) Formula E, also considers that his team is not in the best position.

Many unknowns

"I have no idea where we will be... These new rules are very complicated but in terms of sensations in the car and with the engineers, I felt at ease during testing. We hope to be more efficient because in Bahrain we were not the fastest", argued +Mad Max+.

Ferrari, for its part, arrives at the forefront and tries to keep a low profile, but its innovations seen in Bahrain have impressed the competition.

The three free practice sessions, two on Friday and one on Saturday, will therefore be important before qualifying on Saturday afternoon, during which the teams will finally release the horses for the first time.

And again, between the more complex starting procedure and the management of electrical energy, an essential element of performance this year, the hierarchy of qualifications could well then lead to a very different classification at the end of the race.

Behind the quartet of favorites, the other teams hope to grab points, even if Aston Martin seems to be having a nightmarish start to the season. Its Honda engine is currently causing intolerable vibrations, which could cause nerve damage to the drivers, who could therefore have to stop after just a few laps of the race.

As the start of the season approaches, there are still many unknowns in the paddock.

© 2026 AFP

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