The early-season Asia-Pacific swing has now been completed. Across these three races, some teams have thrived under the new regulations, but others have struggled. The team towering above the rest? Mercedes-AMG Petronas.

Mercedes

From Shanghai to Suzuka, at least one of the Mercedes drivers has been at the top of the podium. In both qualifying and race pace, Mercedes has been practically untouchable. They adapted to the new technical regulations incredibly well, resulting in superior downforce and grip. Their power unit excels at managing battery deployment, an aspect of the 2026 regulations that many teams have struggled with.

The driver truly benefiting from all of this is Italian Kimi Antonelli. In his second year of F1, he has already made history, becoming the youngest championship leader. With back-to-back wins, he is leading in the points so far this season.

Australia

The season opened at Melbourne’s Albert Park. Unfortunately for Oscar Piastri and Aussie fans, the driver did not even start his home Grand Prix due to a crash on the pre-race laps.

Haas driver Ollie Bearman had a hard crash in the first free practice session, and another in Free Practice 3. Thankfully, except for a small limp, he escaped major injury. 

Regulations

Despite three races under their belts, many drivers are still expressing concerns regarding the new regulations. Many cite that the inconsistent power delivery in the hybrid system makes the cars difficult to predict. The cars can become unstable if airflow is disrupted, raising the chances of sudden loss of control and racing incidents.

While the new regulations were expected to level the playing field, some teams have surmounted others, as demonstrated by Mercedes.

Drivers have shared that the race is more of who can manage their energy better than who can actually drive the car. Charles Leclerc told his team that the Manuel Override Mode “… is like a mushroom in Mario Kart.” Timing appears to have become just as, if not more, important than skill.

DNFs and frustrated drivers are typical at the beginning of new regulations. The drivers do seem weary of these regulations in particular, but fans hope that with more racing, they will become more adapted to the changes.

Miami

Up next is the Miami Grand Prix. From May 1-3, Floridan fans have the chance to see the championship battle up close and whether Mercedes’ domination will continue or a new driver will stand at the top of the podium.