2026 pecking order speculation

[Badger]

Apparently Audi will be one of the only teams that is underweight to start the season. Interesting.

iirc, Sauber was also the only team at the weight limit in 2022.

I think they might surprise. Everyone keeps writing them off to be at the back with Cadillac.

I dont expect Audi to be frontrunners, but I also dont think they’ll be dead last either.

For Cadillac I am a bit more reserved. They’re starting fresh. But honestly, them being a solid but inconsistent midfield team like what Haas managed in 2016 wouldn’t be unrealistic.

Overall the budget cap makes it so that even backmarkers should theoretically not be miles off. Gaps to what we saw pre ground effect era between the top and the rest of the grid should not appear anymore.

The Race did a podcast where they basically said that if Cadillac is within the 107% rule that would be considered a success. Gave me the feeling they may know something we don't. I do not think they will be a midfield team.

[dren]

I listened to the same and I don't always buy into what those guys say. Andretti will have a solid Ferrari PU. I think they will be at the back but not as bad as the Race seems to think.

[BassVirolla]

I think they might surprise. Everyone keeps writing them off to be at the back with Cadillac.

I dont expect Audi to be frontrunners, but I also dont think they’ll be dead last either.

For Cadillac I am a bit more reserved. They’re starting fresh. But honestly, them being a solid but inconsistent midfield team like what Haas managed in 2016 wouldn’t be unrealistic.

Overall the budget cap makes it so that even backmarkers should theoretically not be miles off. Gaps to what we saw pre ground effect era between the top and the rest of the grid should not appear anymore.

The Race did a podcast where they basically said that if Cadillac is within the 107% rule that would be considered a success. Gave me the feeling they may know something we don't. I do not think they will be a midfield team.

What gives me bad vibes about Cadillac is that it look like an amateurish team, transferring a lot of people from GM production works and lower racing categories directly to the most exigent world of F1.

[AR3-GP]

What gives me bad vibes about Cadillac is that it look like an amateurish team, transferring a lot of people from GM production works and lower racing categories directly to the most exigent world of F1.

As well as the drivers who are 2nd pickings. Cadillac will never know the real speed of their car.

[BassVirolla]

What gives me bad vibes about Cadillac is that it look like an amateurish team, transferring a lot of people from GM production works and lower racing categories directly to the most exigent world of F1.

As well as the drivers who are 2nd pickings. Cadillac will never know the real speed of their car.

As a new team, makes (some) sense being cheap with drivers, given that you are only fighting for not being last (or stay in the 107% ).

What does not make any sense is put a half***ed structure to bring up the whole team.

[Emag]

Drivers aren't even that bad. Bottas was really good in 2022 for Alfa. And let's be honest, it's not like top drivers are lining up to join Cadillac even if you assume they don't care about money. It's probably better to go with proven drivers in a way than some rookie that may or may not be good. With Perez and Bottas you at least have some sort of reference.

[Vettel165]

Max and Red Bull Ford will destroy the field. People are underestimating them. Just my humble opinion.

[BassVirolla]

Drivers aren't even that bad. Bottas was really good in 2022 for Alfa. And let's be honest, it's not like top drivers are lining up to join Cadillac even if you assume they don't care about money. It's probably better to go with proven drivers in a way than some rookie that may or may not be good. With Perez and Bottas you at least have some sort of reference.

Totally true. But still fails to justify such a mess of a team.

[bananapeel23]

What gives me bad vibes about Cadillac is that it look like an amateurish team, transferring a lot of people from GM production works and lower racing categories directly to the most exigent world of F1.

As well as the drivers who are 2nd pickings. Cadillac will never know the real speed of their car.

I'd say Bottas and Perez are two really good picks for drivers. They are solid, middle of the pack drivers, both with experience of championship winning teams and over 200 F1 starts on their record. Picking them also ensures that the car won't end up being especially difficult to drive, since they appear to perform best in balanced cars.

Obviously we won't know how well Verstappen or Leclerc would do in the car, so we won't know exactly how fast it can go. We will however know how fast it will go in the hands of two well known quantities that are known capable drivers.

But yes. I suspect their pace will have them firmly last, and by quite some margin as well.

[AR3-GP]

I think we are still due at least 3 more Silverstone shakedowns. I'm just not sure which teams those are. Rumor is that 1 of the big teams is in trouble for Barcelona.

I'm really starting to wonder about Mclaren. They haven't posted a fire up video. They were the last team to announce their launch date. Did they have more important priorities? . Could they miss the Barcelona test?

[the EDGE]

https://i.postimg.cc/LsytvFjX/image.png

I think we are still due at least 3 more Silverstone shakedowns. I'm just not sure which teams those are. Rumor is that 1 of the big teams is in trouble for Barcelona.

I'm really starting to wonder about Mclaren. They have posted a fire up video. They were the last team to announce their launch date. Did they have more important priorities? . Could they miss the Barcelona test?

McLaren also turned down an invitation from Woking town council for Lando to do a demo run in the town, claiming they were too focused on the season ahead

[AR3-GP]

https://i.postimg.cc/LsytvFjX/image.png

I think we are still due at least 3 more Silverstone shakedowns. I'm just not sure which teams those are. Rumor is that 1 of the big teams is in trouble for Barcelona.

I'm really starting to wonder about Mclaren. They have posted a fire up video. They were the last team to announce their launch date. Did they have more important priorities? . Could they miss the Barcelona test?

McLaren also turned down an invitation from Woking town council for Lando to do a demo run in the town, claiming they were too focused on the season ahead

Everything will probably work out, but I get the sense that there is very little resting taking place in Woking right now.

[SB15]

Max and Red Bull Ford will destroy the field. People are underestimating them. Just my humble opinion.

"Least biased humble opinion"

[AR3-GP]

https://i.postimg.cc/LsytvFjX/image.png

Racing Bulls at Imola next week. No shakedown for RBR. So I think Mercedes, Mclaren, and Williams will have shakedowns in Silverstone either this weekend or early next week.

[AR3-GP]

Now being reported that Alpine joins Audi in being under the weight limit ahead of the pre-season.