Red Bull scored eight points at the F1 2026 opener in Melbourne on the debut of its power unit

Orihara: When I was in junior high school, I watched F1 on TV and something that stood out were the McLarens with their Honda-powered cars. From that moment onwards, I knew that I wanted to join Honda and be a part of this incredible sport.

A Formula 1 rules revolution is making cars lighter and smaller for 2026, with more electrical power. After the biggest changes in years, F1 teams are dealing with a whole new driving style and trying to find innovations that are within the letter of the rules.

The opening race of F1's new era in Australia left the drivers with mixed feelings about what the sport had become, writes Andrew Benson.

Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Sona Maleterova, Ahmad AlShehab / The Athletic has live coverage from first round of the F1 Australian Grand Prix. Forget everything you thought you knew. That’s not a cliché — in 2026,

The new engines are about 50 percent fuel-powered and 50 percent electric, which has required some significant changes for the drivers. Four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen fared even worse than Norris in qualifying, as he spun out and will have to start 20th in the 22-car field.

As Formula One enters a new era with this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, there is a sense of excitement but also trepidation about what will unfold.