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2026 Formula One Season Thread
- Thread starter The-Real-Deal82
- Start date
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Glideslope
macrumors G3
Absolutely better. I really like the retro theme. I’m also glad it’s a deeper blue. I was concerned it would be Ford Oval Blue.
CWallace
macrumors G5
Max Verstappen will be racing with the number 3 this season after getting the blessing of Daniel Ricciardo.
And Logan Sargeant has joined Ford's WEC HyperCar team.
www.formula1.com
And Logan Sargeant has joined Ford's WEC HyperCar team.
Logan Sargeant confirmed as Ford WEC Hypercar driver
Former F1 driver Logan Sargeant has been confirmed to race for Ford in the World Endurance Championship’s Hypercar class in 2027, with the news announced nearly 18 months after the American’s exit from the Williams team.
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I think it’s more on brand with what Red Bull use tbh. I’ve never seen a can of Red Bull with a dark navy matt colour, it’s always been a deeper royal blue. The bull has returned to bright yellow too from the mustard yellow it was before, looks so much better.
CWallace
macrumors G5
So we have seen Cadillac and Audi actually running 2026 cars on track so the two newcomers seem to have crossed the biggest barrier.
pachyderm
macrumors G5
Apple fanboy
macrumors Ivy Bridge
This looks pretty good and should look great on the track, especially in night races.
pachyderm
macrumors G5
Glideslope
macrumors G3
Audi definitely has a unique sound. I watched the SF-26 fire up clip yesterday. Didn't sound all that healthy. I'm curious how these stainless steel heads effect the combustion sounds.
CWallace
macrumors G5
Watching LawVS' latest video and he noted that while they are using Ferrari's gearbox internals, Cadillac has developed their own gearbox casing which gives them the ability down the road to run their own rear suspension geometry if they choose, rather than having to use the standard Ferrari one (like Haas has to).
I found his insights that with batteries now making up half of the total power output and how battery management will be an even more crucial strategy differentiator, could this mean that:
a) Formula E becomes a viable ladder series into Formula One for drivers, and;
b) Could F1 teams that also have Formula E teams use the knowledge those FE teams have about electrical propulsion to improve their F1 PUs?
He brought up how the Cadillac F1 and Andretti FE operations are ~50km apart which would facilitate staff travelling back and forth to assist each other. And how teams like McLaren, who have zero presence in Formula E, might be a bit on the back foot.
And speaking of Ferrari and rear suspensions, the 2026 car has returned to a pushrod configuration after 15 seasons running a pullrod configuration.
I found his insights that with batteries now making up half of the total power output and how battery management will be an even more crucial strategy differentiator, could this mean that:
a) Formula E becomes a viable ladder series into Formula One for drivers, and;
b) Could F1 teams that also have Formula E teams use the knowledge those FE teams have about electrical propulsion to improve their F1 PUs?
He brought up how the Cadillac F1 and Andretti FE operations are ~50km apart which would facilitate staff travelling back and forth to assist each other. And how teams like McLaren, who have zero presence in Formula E, might be a bit on the back foot.
And speaking of Ferrari and rear suspensions, the 2026 car has returned to a pushrod configuration after 15 seasons running a pullrod configuration.
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Cool to see the Cadillac on track, many didn’t think they would get to this point considering the lateness of their development. Looking good to honest and how i imagined too.
The way some people are attempting to square off Ford against Cadillac is just sad. Definitely the Netflix generation trying to spice it all up for clicks. But so are Cadillac and Ford themselves. Fact is Cadillac will be at the back to the middle of the field and Ford at the front.
headlessmike
macrumors 68000
It's Cadillac with a Ferrari engine vs Red Bull with a "Ford" engine built by ex-Honda engineers in England.
CWallace
macrumors G5
Speaking of Haas, I believe Toyota wants to come back to F1 as at least a PU supplier and probably as a factory team. F1 today is far larger than it was when they were in F1 in the 2000s and F1 is about the only motorsport they have seriously competed in where they have not won at least a race, if not a championship.
Haas started thinking about the VF-26 after the Summer Break in 2024 with a small team and started formal development with a full team in 2025 when the F1 rulebook allowed it and Toyota was part of both teams. And for 2026, Haas will have a formal young driver program for the first time (titled the "TGR Haas Driver Development Program") and it is being reported by Italian auto sport media that the program will be managed by Toyota. Toyota is also rumored to be cutting their WRC program to free up resources to put to F1.
I expect Toyota to use Haas to have a say in the next engine regulations slated to arrive post-2031 and this will give them sufficient time to develop such an engine. As to becoming a factory team, the obvious answer is to buy the team from Gene, but if he refuses to sell, there is still an open 12th team slot and the FIA and F1 would welcome them with open arms.
Haas started thinking about the VF-26 after the Summer Break in 2024 with a small team and started formal development with a full team in 2025 when the F1 rulebook allowed it and Toyota was part of both teams. And for 2026, Haas will have a formal young driver program for the first time (titled the "TGR Haas Driver Development Program") and it is being reported by Italian auto sport media that the program will be managed by Toyota. Toyota is also rumored to be cutting their WRC program to free up resources to put to F1.
I expect Toyota to use Haas to have a say in the next engine regulations slated to arrive post-2031 and this will give them sufficient time to develop such an engine. As to becoming a factory team, the obvious answer is to buy the team from Gene, but if he refuses to sell, there is still an open 12th team slot and the FIA and F1 would welcome them with open arms.
Yes, but that wasn't my point. It is the way the younger fans are 'attempting' to make it out as some war between the American companies with snarky remarks back and forth, but facts are facts, Ford on the front row as it is Red Bull, and Cadillac in the mid field and back. Although Red Bull may pull a Mercedes and really mess the design up of course. Mercedes and Ferrari already power mid field runners, and unless Cadillac have the talent of McLaren in their designers they aren't going to be at the front.
Much like Mercedes AMG, a mighty German engine designed and built by ex-Warwick University, and Imperial College graduates in the Northamptonshire countryside 😛
Glideslope
macrumors G3
headlessmike
macrumors 68000
The factory is at least owned by Mercedes-Benz. They started out as a minority holder of Ilmor back in 1993 and bought it out entirely in 2005. Back when Häkkinen won his championships the Mercedes engines were definitely Ilmor built.
headlessmike
macrumors 68000
I guess that's part of Liberty's plans. With two major American car manufactures making an appearance in F1, the classic American argument of Ford vs GM can find a new arena for fans to engage, regardless of whether or not the brands actually have much to do with the cars racing.
True, sport doesn’t need it though as the drivers give enough drama as it is. Perhaps they feel that wasn’t enough for the American audience and draw more of them in? Cash is king after all in F1.