MARTIN BRUNDLE DROPS VERDICT LEWIS HAMILTON'S F1 2026 CHANCES

Martin Brundle assesses Lewis Hamilton and George Russell's prospects heading into F1 2026.

Lewis Hamilton is still targeting an eighth world title

Martin Brundle is confident Lewis Hamilton will be in the mix of the championship picture during the 2026 Formula 1 season.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton endured a nightmare debut season with Ferrari as he suffered the most disappointing campaign of his storied F1 career.

Hamilton failed to finish on a grand prix podium during a season for the first time in his F1 career, while he was comprehensively beaten by teammate Charles Leclerc and ended the year with three consecutive Q1 eliminations.

But Brundle believes a reenergised Hamilton, even at 41, will be back in the mix at the front of the grid in 2026.

“As Formula 1 fans, we always want Ferrari to do well, don’t we? I’d love to see that come right for Lewis,” Brundle said on Sky Sports.

“He seems a bit happier. He will be great at using the tools that are available to him under the new regulations. He’s got to beat Charles Leclerc in the other Ferrari, because he’s right on it, as well.

“But a happy Lewis has always been, and not just at Ferrari, a fast Lewis. And I have to say, Ferrari have been quite innovative over the winter and they look in a better place than we’ve seen them for a few years now.

“So I’m confident that Lewis will have a better year.”

Brundle does not see a “clear favourite” for the championship and expects F1’s top four teams - McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari - to be battling it out for top honours.

"I see Ferrari being strong, I see both Ferrari drivers being strong," Brundle added.

"I think both McLaren drivers will be strong as well. Oscar will come back on a mission after what he learned last year; Lando, I don't think I've ever seen him yet not with that big grin on his face so far this year, he's just got that comfort now.

"The Red Bull looks really strong, and we know how Max's car control, which you'll need with these cars, will be incredible.

"So, for me, there's not a clear favourite."

Brundle has backed George Russell, who is the bookies’ favourite going into the 2026 season, to challenge for his first F1 world championship with Mercedes this year.

"I do think he's ready for it," Brundle said of the 28-year-old Briton, who is embarking on his eighth season in F1.

"He's a smart guy; they're all smart guys. George has got the team around him. Kimi [Antonelli] will be stronger this year in the other car, but George is completely out of Lewis [Hamilton]'s shadow there, he's the king of the castle at Mercedes-Benz

"He did all those years at Williams and then he went to Mercedes when they just stopped dominating, so he's done the hard yards.

"I think he's got the experience, he's got the car control, and I think he will command the respect in the team to help drive what's going to be an incredibly changeable year.”

Brundle continued: "We questioned that with Lando [Norris] last year, and Oscar [Piastri] too, whether they would wilt under pressure from Max [Verstappen], and they didn’t. I think George is in a very good place.

"Remember, [Russell] grew up in Lewis Hamilton's shadow at Mercedes, and he handled that, and eventually in the final year they were team-mates, he beat Lewis clearly.

"So, I have no doubts about him whatsoever. They're all world-class drivers in F1, you've got to beat them somehow.

"I think George has got so much experience now despite not being 30 yet, that I don't think anything will distract him if he's got a championship-winning car.”

- Lewis Larkam

RED BULL UNVEIL THROWBACK F1 LIVERY FOR 2026 SEASON AT DETROIT LAUNCH EVENT

Red Bull has unveiled a throwback blue livery for the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 season at a launch event in Detroit.

Red Bull has partnered with Ford for the new engine era and unveiled the glossy electric blue look at the company's Detroit base on Thursday night at Michigan Central Station.

As part of F1's new era of regulations, Red Bull is manufacturing their own engine in collaboration with the U.S. car company for the first time since it joined F1 in 2005.

Red Bull and Racing Bulls are the first teams to unveil their liveries for 2026.

Max Verstappen and new teammate Frenchman, Isack Hadjar, who stepped up from Racing Bulls last year, were in attendance.

In a statement, the team said the RB22's livery marks "a return to the gloss finish first seen when the team made its debut back in 2005.

"To acknowledge this bold move, the RB22 will wear a livery inspired by Red Bull's original look in F1. It harks back to a more classic Red Bull Racing presence, sharpening reflections, boosting contrast under the lights and making heritage elements of the new livery feel richer and more premium at speed."

Team principal Laurent Mekies said: "2026 marks the start of a new and significant era for Formula 1 and for Red Bull. We wanted our livery to reflect this, while also giving a nod to Red Bull Racing's beginnings. We are in F1 because of the dream of one man, Dietrich Mateschitz, and several years later, he had another dream, to create an engine.

"This livery is designed to celebrate that spirit that we entered the sport with. In the year that an Oracle Red Bull Racing car carries a Red Bull Ford Powertrains PU for the first time, it felt only right to reflect some of our history in our livery."

Verstappen said everyone is "very excited.

"The colours have," Verstappen added, "changed a little bit. It is much better. I like the shine, blue is my favourite colour. I like the outlines on the Red Bull logo. It is back and much more fresh. It is all still a bit unknown with the engine and the dimension of the car has changed a bit.

"For us drivers, initially it will take a bit of time to adjust and important on test days to get our laps in and optimise as much as possible. It is always better to have an ending like that (2025) and everybody is excited to start a new chapter."

RED BULL

Max Verstappen will use number 3 from 2026 -- the number of his ex-teammate Daniel Ricciardo. Red Bull Content Pool

Laurent Mekies said the livery was a "nod to Red Bull Racing's beginnings." Red Bull Content Pool

(L-R) Pierre Wache, Technical Director, Isack Hadjar, Max Verstappen, Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull GmbH MD, Laurent Mekies, Team Principal, Alisha Palmowski, F1 Academy driver and Phillip Prew, Technical Operations Director Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Oracle Red Bull Racing and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls team photo at the joint launch event in Detroit. Joe Gall / Red Bull Content Pool

- ESPN

TOTO WOLFF CLARIFIES 'SEMI-SARCASTIC' 400KM/H COMMENT ON 2026 REGULATION F1 CARS

Toto Wolff says his 400km/h line was a semi-sarcastic, theoretical example of dumping all hybrid energy on one straight, not a literal prediction

Toto Wolff, Mercedes

Photo by: Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 / Getty Images

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has clarified his comments about the 2026 Formula 1 cars potentially being able to reach 400km/h. Describing his comments as 'semi-sarcastic', he explained the context behind them ahead of the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix.

The Austrian originally commented on next season's car to Auto Motor und Sport, where he claimed that "when the full power is deployed, we will scratch the 400km/h limit."

This comment sparked multiple reactions from the paddock. 

"Maybe Toto's engine will reach that," Red Bull's Max Verstappen joked. "I don't know. I think the FIA has already explained quite clearly that they won't allow it."

Williams' Carlos Sainz also added his thoughts: "I wish if that's the case. The HPP [Mercedes High Performance Powertrains] must be doing a good job, but I didn't hit [400km/h]."

Pierre Gasly didn't believe the Mercedes chief's claims: "I don't believe stories, I only believe what I see. I'm sure we can even go 400 with those cars if you change the gearbox and increase the straights. Take off the first chicane in Monza.

"I've tried the car in the simulator and I know what it does. I'm not too sure where that comes from, to be honest."

Getty Images

Explaining himself after FP1 at Zandvoort, Wolff was quick to set everyone at ease.

"Everybody's talking those engines down so I had to figure out is there anything positive and that is if you were to deploy - obviously semi-sarcastically - but if you were to deploy all the energy on a single straight you could make those cars go 400km/h.

"And I don't know if somebody got afraid by it, but we could. But there wouldn't be much electric energy left for the other few corners on a track on a circuit."

Wolff's comments were then partially intended as a counter-narrative to combat the criticism the 2026 power unit regulations are currently coming under. 

These regulations will introduce a 50-50 split between electric and combustion engine power, on top of active aerodynamics and a boost function which replaces DRS. An objective of the FIA is to increase the top speed of cars next season while reducing downforce, so while there is talk of cars being limited, Motorsport.com understands that this isn't yet seen as a safety issue. 

As expected, the FIA will also be tweaking the regulations based on feedback from teams. 

- Alex Harrington