DOHA: The 2026 Formula One campaign roars into life in Melbourne on March 8, with reigning world champion Lando Norris determined to defend his crown against fierce rival Max Verstappen.
Norris, driving for McLaren, begins the 24-race season as the man to beat, but Verstappen will be equally motivated to reclaim the title in what promises to be a gripping battle at the front of the grid.
Forecasting the pecking order is especially challenging this year due to sweeping revisions to both chassis and engine regulations, changes that could dramatically reshape team performance and competitiveness. With the season set to conclude in Abu Dhabi in early December, uncertainty hangs over the paddock.
Yet that unpredictability may only heighten the drama, as two of the sport’s biggest stars prepare to lock horns in what could become one of Formula One’s most compelling seasons in recent memory.
