F1 2026: winter transition, development and pre season events

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by dfox

Wasn't gifted. The only item you could potentially claim was a "gift" is the slow pitstop order shuffle...

Honestly, this whole spat created by the lando haters has made me dislike Piastri.

Yes, I was talking about the shuffle. Also changing the front end to Lando's preference. Norris is, was and will be MCLs #1

Oscar should have read the writing on the wall but chose to believe in "Papaya Rules." IMHO the pitstop shuffle broke his momentum and confidence in the team. He should have gone full Seabass and said "Tuff Luck"

It might not have changed the season outcome but I doubt he will play that game again. With Lando winning the WDC Oscar has become the de facto #1.

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Yeah . But with Ferrari too.
As we know how MAX nailed it in a Ferrari at the Green Hell...

BTW : Ford is responsible for the built of the electric power unit from the new 2026 Red Bull PU.
The new Red Bull combustion engine has been built by Japanese and ex-Benz engineers.

Ford will be just a sticker on the car ..

Can't blame him. Who knows what team will come out on top next year. Better be ready to jump ship!!!!

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Yeah . But with Ferrari too.
As we know how MAX nailed it in a Ferrari at the Green Hell...

BTW : Ford is responsible for the built of the electric power unit from the new 2026 Red Bull PU.
The new Red Bull combustion engine has been built by Japanese and ex-Benz engineers.

Ford will be just a sticker on the car ..

Sounds better by the minute.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

Can't blame him. Who knows what team will come out on top next year. Better be ready to jump ship!!!!

Three long months with a lot of claims especially from Merc who will still be spinning the wheel yarn but talk is cheap.

[wizardofOz]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

Max, no class and a sour puss?

Not as bad as Sir Lewis Hamilton no showing for no other reason than being a sore loser!!!

Max is actually good friends with Norris and many other drivers on the grid. I’m sure he would have been there if he could.

Hammy doesn’t seem to have a friend on the entire grid. Hanging with $hitass celebrities is his only move.

I agree with your post Killed by Death, I think drivers in this era actually are more friendly than those of past eras. The politics is still there (as expected in F1) but with more visibility, podcasts, netflix and cameras for example, we see more of drivers behind the scenes and what they think of each other on and off camera

Max says a lot of vulgar stuff while driving but an example of him showing 'class' I think was the incident with Kimi when Kimi apologized, Max was cool with that rookie mistake so I don't agree with some of the other posts on here.

For me, Hammy should have considered retiring this year, he's had a long career and won already, as much as I'm no fan of him.

[M5Rick]

McLarens team orders to its drivers

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

Three long months with a lot of claims especially from Merc who will still be spinning the wheel yarn but talk is cheap.

Some teams are using the interesting 2026 'Gray Zone ...

Formula 1 appears poised for its first real clash over the new technical regulations for the 2026 season. Even before the new cars have driven a single meter, there's already some commotion behind the scenes. At the center of the discussion: A potential gray area in the engine regulations, which could give some manufacturers a significant performance advantage.

At least two engine suppliers have found a clever interpretation of the rules, allowing them to effectively use a higher compression ratio than is permitted on paper. Officially, the compression ratio cannot exceed 16:0 in 2026, a significant reduction from the 18:0 permitted under current regulations. It is precisely this difference that makes the issue particularly sensitive.

The crux of the problem lies in the way the compression ratio is measured. The current formulation is that it's measured at ambient temperature, meaning when the engine is cold. Teams have reportedly devised designs where certain internal components expand as the engine reaches operating temperature. This causes the piston to move closer to the top of the cylinder during driving, resulting in a higher compression ratio in practice than the measured values ​​show.

This not only results in extra power, but also improved fuel economy. It is precisely this combination that can make the difference between being at the forefront or lagging behind at the start of a new regulatory cycle (!)

A very remarkable statement came from Toto Wolff : Our new 2026 Mercedes PU can reach more than 400 km/h (!)

[///M Power-Belgium]

What It Takes...

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by wizardofOz

I agree with your post Killed by Death, I think drivers in this era actually are more friendly than those of past eras. The politics is still there (as expected in F1) but with more visibility, podcasts, netflix and cameras for example, we see more of drivers behind the scenes and what they think of each other on and off camera

Max says a lot of vulgar stuff while driving but an example of him showing 'class' I think was the incident with Kimi when Kimi apologized, Max was cool with that rookie mistake so I don't agree with some of the other posts on here.

For me, Hammy should have considered retiring this year, he's had a long career and won already, as much as I'm no fan of him.

This is definitely the most likable and friendly group we have seen in a long time. It doesn't even seem to get ugly between teammates anymore.

Being vulgar and having fits while driving is probably the norm. I'm surprised we don't hear more. But look at the difference between Yuki and Max. When Yuki blows up the media thinks it's cute. If Max has a melt down he has no class. Double standards

[3798j]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

The crux of the problem lies in the way the compression ratio is measured. The current formulation is that it's measured at ambient temperature, meaning when the engine is cold. Teams have reportedly devised designs where certain internal components expand as the engine reaches operating temperature. This causes the piston to move closer to the top of the cylinder during driving, resulting in a higher compression ratio in practice than the measured values ​​show.

"While no competitors have been formally identified yet, sources suggest that Mercedes and Red Bull are the manufacturers at the centre of focus of other engine makers."

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/t...e-controversy/

[Killed by Death]

Originally Posted by 3798j

"While no competitors have been formally identified yet, sources suggest that Mercedes and Red Bull are the manufacturers at the centre of focus of other engine makers."

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/t...e-controversy/

I figured MB and RB would be at the center....Maybe Audi

Ferrari not bright enough

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by wizardofOz

I agree with your post Killed by Death, I think drivers in this era actually are more friendly than those of past eras. The politics is still there (as expected in F1) but with more visibility, podcasts, netflix and cameras for example, we see more of drivers behind the scenes and what they think of each other on and off camera

Max says a lot of vulgar stuff while driving but an example of him showing 'class' I think was the incident with Kimi when Kimi apologized, Max was cool with that rookie mistake so I don't agree with some of the other posts on here.

For me, Hammy should have considered retiring this year, he's had a long career and won already, as much as I'm no fan of him.

Spot on . But on the other hand :
As we know , MAX lost the 2025 WDC by 2 points ..
But we can see it like MAX lost the 2025 WDC by the Kimi Antonelli incident.
Kimi knocked MAX out at the Austria GP . MAX DNF and scored 0 points (!)

[3798j]

But on the other hand knowledgeable fans know...
The "Verstappen red haze" refers to intense moments of anger, frustration, or petulance from Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen, famously seen at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix where he had a collision with George Russell after a safety car, leading to significant media scrutiny and penalties, with experts calling it a "red mist" moment that cost him valuable points and highlighted his fiery temperament."
And while the red mist has been a recurring theme for Verstappen. In this instance it had championship Implications: "The 2025 Spanish GP incident significantly hurt his championship chances against McLaren drivers and ultimately proved to be the main reason he's not the 2025 WCC."

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Some teams are using the interesting 2026 'Gray Zone ...

Formula 1 appears poised for its first real clash over the new technical regulations for the 2026 season. Even before the new cars have driven a single meter, there's already some commotion behind the scenes. At the center of the discussion: A potential gray area in the engine regulations, which could give some manufacturers a significant performance advantage.

At least two engine suppliers have found a clever interpretation of the rules, allowing them to effectively use a higher compression ratio than is permitted on paper. Officially, the compression ratio cannot exceed 16:0 in 2026, a significant reduction from the 18:0 permitted under current regulations. It is precisely this difference that makes the issue particularly sensitive.

The crux of the problem lies in the way the compression ratio is measured. The current formulation is that it's measured at ambient temperature, meaning when the engine is cold. Teams have reportedly devised designs where certain internal components expand as the engine reaches operating temperature. This causes the piston to move closer to the top of the cylinder during driving, resulting in a higher compression ratio in practice than the measured values ​​show.

This not only results in extra power, but also improved fuel economy. It is precisely this combination that can make the difference between being at the forefront or lagging behind at the start of a new regulatory cycle (!)

A very remarkable statement came from Toto Wolff : Our new 2026 Mercedes PU can reach more than 400 km/h (!)

That to me sounds like ET tech.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Spot on . But on the other hand :
As we know , MAX lost the 2025 WDC by 2 points ..
But we can see it like MAX lost the 2025 WDC by the Kimi Antonelli incident.
Kimi knocked MAX out at the Austria GP . MAX DNF and scored 0 points (!)

MAX really wanted to deck him but he's only a kid

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

MAX really wanted to deck him but he's only a kid

MAX was even younger when he made his F1 debute .

But MAX was never a kid .He already showed his Lion b@lls at 18 vs the big guys in the game.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

MAX was even younger when he made his F1 debute .

But MAX was never a kid .He already showed his Lion b@lls at 18 vs the big guys in the game.

LEW's 'happy time' would gradually start coming to an end as soon as MAX signed on, starting with Barcelona.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

That to me sounds like ET tech.

It's a legal way to cheat in the 2026 PU development regarding the HP output.

In other words : The race has already started off season on the PU test-run benches.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

It's a legal way to cheat in the 2026 PU development regarding the HP output.

In other words : The race has already started off season on the PU test-run benches.

Could well be Merc vs RBR then with Ferrari the dark horse. MAX chose to remain for a good reason.

[M5Rick]

[QUOTE=///M Power-Belgium;32522039]Spot on . But on the other hand :
As we know , MAX lost the 2025 WDC by 2 points ..
But we can see it like MAX lost the 2025 WDC by the Kimi Antonelli incident.
Kimi knocked MAX out at the Austria GP . MAX DNF and scored 0 points (!)

---
To me Austria and Qatar was a bit too coincidental with the Antonelli, he's friendly enough for sure but I wouldn't trust him as far as I could sp-t.

[dfox]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

We can say that regarding Lando's MCL39 adaptation skills.
But we can say that from Oscar as well , when both McLarens still ran with the old suspension spec.
Let us not forget , Oscar was faster than Lando in the first 6 months with the old suspension spec.

On the other hand : MAX situation was much worse (!)
MAX had to drive for more than 6 months in a car with a major fundamental design failure.
His RB21 tractor got upgrades to improve the cars balance but it was always like driving backwards.
But somehow MAX still managed to push his unpredictable RB21 tractor on the podiums (!)
And the reason why MAX lost the 2025 WDC with 2 WDC points is the French idiot Pierre Waché.

I'm not so sure about the difference between Norris and Piastri there... they were very even if you pull out Norris' silly crash in Canada and his mechanical failure DNF in zandvoort. He had one additional DNF compared to Piastri, and two extra DNF/DSQ's compared to Max. That's a lot of points to leave on the board...

[Toad]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

As we know , MAX lost the 2025 WDC by 2 points ..
But we can see it like MAX lost the 2025 WDC by the Kimi Antonelli incident.
Kimi knocked MAX out at the Austria GP . MAX DNF and scored 0 points (!)

Imagine if Verstappen won all the races he didn't win