Connect with us

Sports

2026 Formula 1 Teams Ranked By Expert After Final Testing

Published

on


With the third and final round of pre-season testing now in the books, the eyes of every Formula 1 fan now turns to the start of the 2026 campaign. The action kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix on the 8th of March, and some teams will be more optimistic about their chances than others.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was fastest overall during the final round of testing, while Aston Martin duo Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll struggled badly.

Performances in testing aren’t a definitive guide to how the season will go, not least because drivers carry varying fuel loads and drive with specific goals in mind (which may not be to be the fastest on track).

Now that testing has concluded, though, Sky Sports F1 reporter Craig Slater has revealed his final ranking of where each team stands heading into the new season.

“I have tried to put together a top 11 ranking of all the teams at the end of this test week,” he admitted in a video uploaded to the Sky Sports F1 YouTube channel.

“It carries my name, but I would say that these are based on conversations I’ve had with team personnel, people with a direct window into GPS traces, that sort of thing, and with a viewpoint as to how things will play out over the course of this season.”

11. Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso

As mentioned above, Alonso and Stroll have been struggling throughout testing. In ranking the team as the worst on the grid, Slater reasoned:

“They’re having significant problems with their Honda power unit. Despite having Adrian Newey, having spent a lot of money, they are starting at the back. But surely they’ll improve over the course of the year.”

10. Cadillac

The newest team on the F1 grid have always admitted that they expect to struggle in their debut season. Although they have two experienced drivers in Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas to help them navigate the challenges they are set to face, Slater agrees that the upcoming season is likely to be a tough one.

9. Williams

Carlos Sainz before a F1 race

Noting that Williams enjoyed a strong 2025 season (finishing fifth overall), Slater has concerns for the chances of both Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz in 2026.

He notes:

“Williams were top of the mid-field at the end of last year, but they are a little bit undercooked coming into the new season. It didn’t really feel like they managed a proper race simulation [in testing] and their best time was only just good enough to squeeze into the top 10. They look a little bit behind.”

8. Audi

Slater predicts a strong showing from Audi this term, with Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoletto tipped for a respectable showing.

“Building their own power unit with a big turbo in it. I think they could go well in the first race of the season.”

7. Racing Bulls

Arvid Lindblad

Just favoured over Audi by Slater, Racing Bulls sit seventh in the broadcaster’s overall prediction. Liam Lawson is joined by his new team-mate Arvid Lindblad, who is the only rookie driver on the 2026 F1 grid.

6. Haas

Haas has retained both Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman for the 2026 campaign. By virtue of their “excellent preparation this pre-season”, Slater sees them finishing sixth.

5. Alpine

Alpine's 2026 F1 Car

Alpine finished rock bottom in 2025, but are expected to put together a far stronger challenge in the season ahead. Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto are tipped to benefit hugely from the team’s new Mercedes engine.

“Top of the midfield, we think, Alpine. [They are] Mercedes customers this season, having stopped their own engine program. So that’s Alpine going from the bottom team [last season] to maybe the fifth team.”

4. Red Bull

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has already begun to complain about his new car for the 2026 season, with the team still looking to work out the kinks in their newly-designed power unit.

“Red Bull, I’m putting in fourth place,” states Slater. “Which is a tremendous achievement for a team which has built their own power unit. That power unit’s harvesting and deployment does look very good indeed.”

3. Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton Driving

Slater sees Ferrari having to settle for third place, predicting that Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s power unit will not quite be good enough for them to challenge for top honours.

“Engineers have told me they have concerns about the small turbo in the Ferrari power unit. It’s good for starts, we’ve seen that, but could that be a deficit and a problem particularly on power-sensitive tracks?”

2. McLaren

Last season’s champions have been slotted as second-best for the upcoming season. It’s a ranking that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will hope to prove wrong when the campaign gets underway.

Slater predicts:

“McLaren, I’m putting slightly ahead of Ferrari, based on the efficacy of that Mercedes power unit [which Mercedes also supply to McLaren].”

1. Mercedes

Kimi Antonelli and George Russell of Mercedes

George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have routinely been among the top performers in testing and Slater expects that to continue into the season proper, tipping them to take the Constructors’ Championship.

“I think circuit-specific form will be a big aspect of this season. With that in mind, and it is a consensus view, Mercedes seem to be slightly ahead of the pack. We haven’t seen the best of their power unit yet.”

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Tottenham Handed Transfer Blow as Juventus Schedule Emi Martinez Meeting

Published

on

By


Tottenham could have a problem brewing amid reports one of their players may have fallen down the shortlist of another club. Spurs are in the midst of a record-breaking transfer window that has seen them spend more than they ever have, with their spend totaling more than £230million so far.

The North London club will continue to spend, backing Roberto De Zerbi to put together a European qualification attempt next season, and they can afford to do it.

But that doesn’t mean sales are not necessary, with the books needing to be balanced, even if just partially, while De Zerbi will also want to avoid having an overcrowded squad next season. As part of that equation, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is effectively for sale, but there may be a problem.

Juventus pushing to sign Vicario alternative

Tottenham Hotspur's Guglielmo Vicario reacts vs Brentford

According to Sky Italy, Juventus are now advancing their interest in Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who was seen as the one name that was put ahead of Spurs stopper Vicario this summer.

According to the report, Juventus officials are meeting in Italy today, on Wednesday, to discuss a possible deal for Martinez, It’s reported the club officials will discuss whether a deal is possible and how much they are willing to pay to sign the World Cup keeper.

Crucially, it’s added that Vicario is seen as a secondary option, and that the Old Lady will ‘exhaust all options’ to sign Martinez first before moving on to the Spurs player.

Juventus CEO Giovanni Carnevali recently said: “Martinez is playing (at the World Cup) so we have to wait and see.

“He is a goalkeeper who interests us. However, I reiterate what I said earlier regarding Juventus: there could be many opportunities. We need to evaluate things carefully, especially right now, given that the valuations for some players are excessively high—unrealistic figures.”

Spurs relying on Vicario exit this summer

Tottenham Hotspur's Guglielmo Vicario looks dejected after Crystal Palace's Jorgen Strand Larsen scores via Reuters

The problem for Tottenham is not only that they will miss out on a chance to land a transfer windfall this summer, with Vicario carrying an asking price of £20million, but Spurs also need to make room.

The North London club have snapped up Martin Dubravka to serve as the club’s new back-up, and they have given Antonin Kinsky a new contract, effectively making him a number one.

The reality is that Spurs no longer have a spot for Vicario, and they will be relying on a sale this summer. The keeper is said to want a move back to Italy this summer, and if Juventus are not interested, Vicario’s chances of finding a new club in Italy are likely to be drastically reduced. That could be a problem for the goalkeeper, and perhaps a bigger one for Spurs.

Continue Reading

Sports

Egypt File Complaint and Post Stunning Statement After Argentina Loss

Published

on

By


Egypt have filed a complaint and posted a stunning statement on social media following their dramatic defeat to Argentina at the 2026 World Cup.

The African nation looked as if they were going to pull off a shock when they led 2-0 with 15 minutes of the last 16 clash remaining. It wasn’t to be for The Pharaohs, though, as Argentina scored three late goals to break Egyptian hearts.

Hossam Hassan’s side were absolutely furious after Enzo Fernandez’s winner in the 93rd minute. They believed that Mohamed Salah was felled in the build-up to the goal and that it should not have counted.

They were also reeling that they had a goal disallowed earlier in the second half when Lisandro Martinez was adjudged to have been fouled in the build-up.

Egypt Make Complaint to FIFA

Hossam Hassan Paul Childs via Reuters

Speaking after the match, Egypt manager Hassan claimed that the game was ‘rigged’ to allow Argentina and Lionel Messi to stay in the competition.

He said: “They want Argentina and Messi to stay in the World Cup for marketing. If they wanted Argentina to win, why invite other teams to participate? This match was clearly rigged, and the whole world witnessed it.

“We were better than Argentina, and football is unfair. We had a clear penalty that the referee didn’t award, and Ziko’s goal at the start of the second half was disallowed, even though it was perfectly legitimate.”

Spanish publication AS have now reported that Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abo Rida has submitted a formal complaint against French referee François Letexier and his officiating team following the match.

Egypt are seeking an explanation and have called for an investigation into what they describe as controversial decisions. The federation has also officially called for the French officiating team to be removed from the remainder of the tournament.

You scored

out of 20

Egypt Post Statement

Egypt coaches argue with the referee after Argentina's winner REUTERS/Marco Bello

The Egyptian FA have now posted an extraordinary statement on social media. It started: “The Egyptian Football Association extends its sincere gratitude to the Egyptian people everywhere for their unwavering support, loyalty, and belief in the national team throughout our FIFA World Cup journey.

“The exceptional support shown by millions of Egyptians, both at home and around the world, was a source of immense pride and motivation for our players and delegation. The national team represented Egypt with honor, determination, and courage, delivering performances that reflected the spirit and character of our nation.

“At the same time, the Egyptian Football Association cannot remain silent regarding the refereeing decisions witnessed during the match against Argentina as well as the failure to make appropriate use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. Several key incidents raised serious concerns and left profound questions about the consistency and fairness of decisions that directly influenced the course of the game.

“A number of football experts and specialist analysts, both locally and internationally, have highlighted controversial and influential refereeing incidents during the match. This underlines the importance of maintaining the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and transparency in match officiating, particularly in a competition of the stature and significance of the FIFA World Cup 2026.”

They continued: “Egyptian football has always respected the principles of fair play, sporting integrity, and respect for the game. These same principles require that all teams compete on equal terms and receive equal treatment. What occurred during the match has understandably generated widespread frustration among our players, staff, and supporters, who expected the highest standards of officiating on football’s biggest stage.

“Defending the rights and interests of the Egyptian national team is not a matter that can be ignored, minimized, or treated as secondary. It is a responsibility that we carry with full conviction and determination. Every player who wears the Egyptian shirt, and every supporter who stands behind the team, deserves fairness, respect, and equal application of the laws of the game.”

Continue Reading

Sports

Maxxine Dupri’s Real-Life Husband Makes Feelings Clear After Austin Theory Kiss

Published

on

By


Professional wrestling star Kam Hendrix has spoken out following the recent viral footage of real-life wife and fellow wrestler Maxxine Dupri kissing Austin Theory.

The incident occurred on the latest episode of WWE Raw, following Theory’s triumph alongside The Vision partner Bron Breakker in the World Tag Team Championship match against The Street Profits in Rosemont, Illinois.

Theory and Breakker were looking to take down the reigning holders, Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford, and regain the crown from the same duo that snatched it from them a fortnight ago on Raw in London.

The Vision appeared to be on the cusp of defeat once more in the latest tag team title showdown, as Theory was set to be struck by Dawkins with brass knuckles late on in the contest.

The Vision member, Logan Paul, attempted to intervene at one point in the fight, but he was dismissed by the referee and could not stop what was appearing to be an inevitable defeat for his stablemates.

However, Dupri made a sudden appearance during the fight’s climax, stepping in to stop Theory getting hit and landing a low blow on Dawkins.

Maxxine Dupri Joins The Vision on Monday Night Raw

This dramatic intervention allowed Theory to pin down Dawkins and land the clinching move, making The Vision champions once more and ending The Street Profits’ short run as holders.

However, the drama did not stop there, as this is when Dupri was seen embracing Theory and sharing a kiss with him. The moment confirmed Dupri’s allegiance to The Vision and on-screen romance with Theory after much backstage speculation.

The viral moment caused many wrestling fans to question how Hendrix felt seeing his wife kiss Theory on the 6th of July Raw broadcast.

Maxxine Dupri’s Real-Life Husband Responds to Kiss

Austin Theory and Maxxine Dupri

Hendrix, whose real name is Anthony Luke, married Dupri, real name Sydney Zmrzel, last December after about seven years of dating.

It turns out Hendrix was not bothered in the slightest by the incident involving his wife and Theory, as his response on his official X account read: “Damn, didn’t realise how many people were jealous of Kam Hendrix! Feels kinda good, actually.”

Hendrix obviously understands the entertainment and scripted nature of professional wrestling, having been a member of WWE for two years now, so the matter involving Dupri will clearly not bother him.

WWE fans invested in The Vision’s story will be keen to know how Theory and Dupri’s on-screen romance develops and how it could play a part in future events.

Continue Reading

Trending