What Can We Expect from Motorsport in 2026?

With the 2025 Formula 1 and Supercars seasons coming to an end, its time to look forward to the future at what to expect with the beginning of the 2026 season in February. With new regulations, new cars, new drivers and new races lined up across the board, fans can expect an action-packed year full of new twists and turns, which will no doubt keep fans and teams alike in suspense. The beginning of the 2026 Formula 1 season sees brand new regulations sweeping the grid, with all teams now ‘back to square one’ literally and metaphorically. These new regulations have completely reinvented the cars, and have levelled the playing field across the grid with the same aerodynamic and power unit changes, with significant weight reductions and smaller dimensions.

The 2026 cars will be 30kg lighter, the width and overall wheelbase will be shorter, and the aerodynamics of the cars have been completely changed. The DRS system has been removed in favour of a manual override system, now designed for higher speeds and downforce in corners, whilst it produces lower drag on the straights. The downforce however has been lowered by 30%, with teams expecting longer breaking zones and less grip on track. Due to these changes however, they expect a reduction in the dreaded porposing effect, which has plagued a lot of teams in prior seasons. The power unit overhaul consists of a half and half power system, featuring a combustion engine and electric power, with the electrical power increased due to this hybrid system. Sustainable fuel is now mandated in these new regulations, with the FIA and Formula 1 hoping to reach Net Zero Carbon emissions by 2030. With these new regulations and changes comes new safety upgrades, with stronger and reinforced front structure to help lessen the impact of an initial or secondary crash, in addition to a strengthened roll hoop which is now capable of withstanding 20G instead of the previous 16G. The cockpit has also been strengthened, with further internal protection implemented to protect internal electrical components within the cars.

Of course, with the implementation of these new regulations, there are of course concerns. The concerns consist mainly of the new hybrid engines running out of power on higher speed track such as Monza and making drivers less intuitive as they will have to focus more on conserving power than combat. There is also the concern that certain manufacturers might benefit more from the new regulations and changes compared to other manufactures, which could create an imbalance amongst the teams. But there are benefits to these changes, benefits that will supposedly bring the teams closer on track and provide better overtaking and combat amongst the drivers. These changes would also showcase the brand new sustainable technologies developed for the future of motorsport. There is no telling how this season will go until it starts at the Australian Grand Prix next year in March. It will be an exciting and interesting season, there is no doubt about that, and will no doubt shake up the grid in many ways.

Aside from these new regulation changes, there are new teams taking to the grid from 2026 onward. With Audi announcing their entry into Formula 1 back in 2022, and Cadillac in 2023, the motorsport world was eagerly awaiting any news concerning these two teams, especially regarding the drivers. Audi will be taking over Kick Sauber, who already have a good foothold in the sport, and with Audi developing their very own power unit, there is definitely a chance for potential with the new regulation changes present from 2026 onward. Drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto will be staying with the team, securing their position on the grid and with the team. Cadillac however, do have a long way to come. Starting from scratch as a brand new team on the grid, it will no doubt be an exciting yet daunting time when the 2026 season begins. Fans are excited for the return of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas to the grid, who will drive for Cadillac and no doubt provide the experience the team needs to further improve the cars across the season.

Having both Cadillac and Audi now in Formula 1 not only boosts their publicity greatly but it also brings in a new generation of fans who follow the actual brand, or fans of other categories that Audi or Cadillac are involved in. The addition of these new teams does also come with their own concerns, mostly around the level of inexperience that comes with new teams on the grid, even with experienced drivers at the helm. But true solid judgements cannot be made until the season begins, and until then we must wait in suspense.

If we segway to the Australian Supercars, fans and car enthusiasts alike will be treated to an action-packed season with fourteen races across the year, with a New Zealand double header in Taupō and Christchurch, as well as the arrival of the Toyota GR Supra which will make its grand debut on track from the Syndey 500 in February.

The Toyota GR Supra has been a work in progress ever since it was announced that Toyota Australia was planning to enter into the Supercars back in September 2024. A brand new rivalry is set to form on track which will no doubt have fans on the edge of their seats, and teams watching the grid and the Toyota teams very closely. Walkinshaw Andretti United and Brad Jones Racing are set to sport the new Supra, switching from the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro respectively. The Supra will run a 5.0L naturally aspirated 2UR-GSE V8 engine in line with the regulations to compete with Fords 5.4L and Chevrolets 5.7L, with fans and car enthusiasts alike eager to catch a glimpse of the Supra on track. Aside from the Supra, Triple Eight will be switching from the Chevrolet Camaro to the Ford Mustang. They will continue to race under Red Bull Ampol racing and will race the Mustang from the beginning of the 2026 season.

The 2026 racing calendar is bigger and better than ever, containing fourteen rounds instead of the previous thirteen. Beginning in Eastern Creek for the Sydney 500 at Sydney Motorsport Park from February 20th-22nd, the Friday of that weekend is free entry as a thank you from Supercars to the fans, and to showcase the Supra to everyone. The double header in New Zealand is set to bring Supercars closer to New Zealand fans, with Taupō and Christchurch take centre stage. The 2026 season will be the first time that the Supercars will be racing in Christchurch at Ruapuna Raceway from the 17th-19th April following after Taupō. The Sprint Cup will take place over nine races instead of eight with the winner to be announced at Ipswich in August, and the Enduros will take place at Bathurst and The Bend.

The 2026 Season for both the Australian Supercars and the Formula 1 is set to be one that fans won’t want to miss. With brand new regulation changes and new cars across the board, fans are in for a treat that will have them tuned in for every second of every race.

Favouritism and Fans: Is There a Growing Bias of Favouritism in Motorsport?

The concept of favouritism within motorsport is growing exponentially, and if you have been following the 2025 Formula 1 season, this debate concerning the teams and the drivers is nothing new.

Everyone has their favourite team and their favourite driver, the same goes for all sports who have favourite players and athletes. Formula 1 is no different, and with the addition to new teams coming to the grid in 2026 with some previous drivers returning, there is no doubt going to be a tremendous shake up amongst fans, new, current and old alike. However, the issue of favouritism cannot be ignored, especially when fans have become divided amongst themselves about a team’s morals and internal bias in regards to which driver they should choose to favour over the other.

This speculation arises from the current news surrounding the McLaren Formula 1 Team, and their drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. From the start of the 2025 season, Piastri held the lead for the driver’s championship after claiming seven wins from China, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Miami, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. However as recently as Mexico, Lando has now taken the lead, which has left some McLaren fans, and the Formula 1 world divided as to whether a case for favouritism can be made. This stems from several concerning and bizarre strategic decisions made concerning both drivers across the season, from alternating leads and pit stops to ignoring team orders, to the classic phrase of ‘papaya rules’, fans have begun to take action against each other and the team, accusing McLaren of favouriting Oscar over Lando, or Lando over Oscar.

The debate seems neverending, which in turn has created an online platform for targeting one fan after another for defending their favourite driver from fans of the other. McLaren has recently commented on the issue regarding the speculated favouritism within the team, with CEO Zak Brown maintaining that there is no favouritism between either driver. However, that has done nothing to quell the speculation or heated debates across social media. Papaya Rules is now dividing fans, which now leaves a rather large gap between the fans and the competency of the team. McLaren has a lot of work to do to regain the trust and engagement of Piastri and Norris fans alike, however, with the end of the season looming, it seems like McLaren is running out of time.