Our writers reflect on the first three rounds of 2026

As the 2026 F1 season pauses before Round 4 in Miami, experts including Lawrence Barretto and Chris Medland reflect on a dramatic opening trio of races. Kimi Antonelli leads the championship, drawing widespread praise for his maturity and pace in the dominant Mercedes, while fellow youngsters like Ollie Bearman and Arvid Lindblad have impressed with their swift adaptation to the new regulations. Mercedes has re-established its dominance, though teams like Audi and Cadillac have earned respect for their strong competitive starts. In contrast, teams like Aston Martin and Red Bull face significant challenges. Aston Martin, in particular, is struggling with reliability and performance issues in its new partnership with Honda, while Red Bull’s RB22 is hampered by poor balance, leaving Max Verstappen frustrated. Looking ahead, the focus shifts to whether Aston Martin and Red Bull can implement fundamental fixes during the break, and if George Russell can challenge his teammate Antonelli's momentum. The racing itself, bolstered by new aerodynamic rules, has provided hope that the remainder of the season will continue to deliver competitive action.