The second round of the 2026 F1 season, the Chinese Grand Prix, takes place from March 13th to 15th. The F1 Academy will also be on the program. Find the full schedule for this Friday.
Created in 1950, F1 is celebrating its 75th anniversary and has never been in better shape. In 2022, the premier single-seater discipline has indeed undergone its biggest technical upheaval in almost 40 years. From now on, the cars are ground-effect, and fitted with 18-inch tires (instead of 13 previously). The aim of the maneuver? To improve the quality of the races by allowing the drivers to follow each other more closely and therefore fight against each other. After the period of domination of Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton between 2014 and 2020, Max Verstappen and Red Bull have reigned supreme over the discipline since 2021. But since 2024, we have seen a tightening of competitiveness, with the advent of McLaren and Ferrari, in particular.
F1 drivers to follow in 2026:
In 2026, Lando Norris returns to the hunt after securing his first title in 2025, but the Briton doesn't appear to be the frontrunner. His compatriot, George Russell, is the natural favorite: his team, Mercedes, is expected to return to the top after winning seven Drivers' titles and eight Constructors' titles between 2014 and 2021. Among the Germans, Kimi Antonelli, in his second Formula 1 season, will obviously be one to watch. The Ferrari drivers also dream of glory in red, especially Charles Leclerc, the homegrown talent, but Lewis Hamilton still hopes for an eighth title that would make him the undisputed record holder. And how could we forget McLaren, the reigning double Constructors' champions with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and of course Max Verstappen, formidable in his Red Bull? The Dutchman has been joined this year by Frenchman Isack Hadjar, who will be experiencing this level of competition for the first time.
What is the top speed of a Formula 1 car?
The Formula 1 speed record recognized by the FIA is held by Alan van der Merwe with a mark of 397,481 km/h signed on the Bonneville Salt Flats in a Honda F1. In Grand Prix, the race record is to the credit of Kimi Räikkönen with 370,1 km/h during the Italian Grand Prix in 2005. In qualifying, it is Valtteri Bottas, today at Alfa Romeo , which dominates with 378 km/h in Baku.
What is the price of a Formula 1?
First of all, an F1 cannot be bought or in any case not put on sale commercially. We will therefore talk more about value. The overall value of a Formula 1 car is estimated at around 1 euros.
Who holds the records in F1?
Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton co-hold the record for the number of drivers' world championships with 7 titles each. Hamilton, on the other hand, is the only record holder for the number of victories (103), pole positions (104), and podiums. On the Manufacturers' side, Ferrari has the most trophies with 16 world championship titles. F1 is currently owned by Liberty Media, an American media company.
Where to watch the F1 Grands Prix?
Holder of the rights to Formula 1 in France since 2013, the Canal + group occasionally broadcasts the races unencrypted on C8, one of its free channels. For the rest, they are broadcast on the pay channels of the Canal + group (Canal +, Canal + Sport, Canal + Décalé)