We are now just over a week away from the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season and excitement is already building. The cars have been launched, the teams are decided, and pre-season testing is all concluded, all that’s left to do now is race!
As always, the F1 season begins Down Under with Australia set to host the curtain-raiser next weekend, the 8th of March, and all eyes will be on who can handle the new rules and regulations the best.
It doesn’t seem that long ago we were all witnessing McLaren celebrating yet another Constructors’ Championship and Lando Norris delivering his first Drivers’ Championship. However, that’s all in the past now and our eyes are firmly set on next season with the new cars and the new regulations in place.
That bodes the question: who is going to deal with the new regulations the best? Well, we have asked AI to predict the top 10 Drivers’ Championship for next season after the results from pre-season testing, and the findings are interesting to say the least.
Starting off the top 10 is Haas‘ Oliver Bearman, with AI predicting a strong and possible breakout season for the youngster, who made his debut in the sport just last season.
The Brit impressed for the majority in 2025, and eventually ended the campaign 13th in the Drivers’ Championship, with his best result coming in Mexico, finishing just off the podium in fourth.
He totalled 41 points last season, just 15 off the top 10, but AI is backing him to make those improvements and solidify himself as one of the best of the rest.
AI wrote: “Haas looked competitive (Bearman in top times), with good mileage. Bearman could emerge as a breakout star in the midfield fight.”
Although 2025 was a season largely to forget for Pierre Gasly, AI has him bouncing back nicely in 2026, finishing ninth in the Drivers’ Championship with Alpine.
The Frenchman finished 18th in last season’s standings, accumulating a measly 22 points, with his best finish coming at Silverstone, where he finished sixth. However, two retirements and a disqualification, as well as just five point finishes, didn’t help Gasly and Alpine whatsoever.
AI is confident both Gasly and Alpine will improve this season, however, saying: “Alpine surprised with solid top-eight times (Gasly 1:33.4s). Consistent midfield contender.”
Isack Hadjar did enough last season in his debut campaign to earn himself a big move to Red Bull, taking on the infamous and somewhat cursed second seat next to Max Verstappen.
Liam Lawson couldn’t fill the seat, nor could Yuki Tsunoda, so it’s over to the man that finished 12th in last season’s Drivers’ Championship to see if he can fill the hardest cockpit in the sport.
Hadjar secured 10 point finishes last season, including an impressive podium in the Netherlands, but more eyes and more scrutiny will be on him this season in a potentially title-challenging car.
However, AI has him finishing in eighth place, maybe suggesting that they don’t see Red Bull challenging at the very top next season.
“Promising rookie alongside Verstappen; testing showed decent pace for the team. Could score regularly if Red Bull improves,” AI has said.
In probably the biggest surprise yet, AI has Max Verstappen, the four-time world champion, finishing a measly seventh next season, which indicates just how much they’re expecting Red Bull to struggle with the new regulations.
Discussing the Dutchman’s title chances, AI said: “Red Bull wasn’t fastest in testing but focused on race pace/reliability (new in-house PU with Ford). Verstappen’s skill keeps him winning races and high in points, even if the car isn’t dominant.”
With Verstappen out of the title picture, according to AI at least, the 2026 season could look very, very interesting when it comes to podiums and race wins.
Make no mistake, Ferrari are expected to have a much stronger season in 2026 than they did in 2025, especially going off the results in pre-season testing, but AI is still predicting Lewis Hamilton to struggle and only finish sixth in the Drivers’ Championship.
Funnily enough, that’s exactly where he finished last season, picking up 156 points during his debut campaign with the Prancing Horse. However, he didn’t even secure one single podium in 2025, something that will surely change in 2026?
AI said: “Strong in testing (e.g., 1:33.4s), but Leclerc’s edge suggests Hamilton plays a supporting role initially. Experience could yield wins.”
Before pre-season testing had even begun, a supercomputer predicted that George Russell would win the 2026 Drivers’ Championship, picking up an impressive 394 points along the way.
However, AI disagrees and has placed the British Mercedes driver at fifth, just ahead of his old teammate and countryman Hamilton. This finish would see him one place worse off than last year, where he finished fourth on 319 points.
AI said: “High mileage king in testing, reliable, and quick (often P6 range). Mercedes’ bounce-back form makes him a podium regular, possibly a title contender if updates flow.”
Could George Russell be beaten by his lesser-experienced teammate in just his second season at Mercedes? According to AI he could!
Kimi Antonelli is predicted to finish fourth in this year’s Drivers’ Championship, which would be a steady improvement from his seventh-placed finish last season.
He did achieve three podiums last season, but his four retirements really cost him a debut season to truly remember.
AI wrote: “The young star topped sessions and impressed with raw speed. Mercedes had strong overall testing (high laps, good balance), and Antonelli could outshine Russell in this reset era.”
For much of last season it looked like Oscar Piastri was going to win the Drivers’ Championship. However, a run of six races near the end of the season just didn’t go to plan for the Australian, and he eventually finished third overall, even falling behind Verstappen in the pecking order.
A retirement, a disqualification, and then four races in a row off the podium cost Piastri big time, leaving him third overall on 410 points, 13 behind teammate and eventual winner Norris.
While discussing Piastri’s chances this season, AI said: “Close to Norris, with excellent racecraft and testing pace (e.g., 1:32.861s). McLaren’s consistency should keep both in contention all year.”
Lando Norris WON’T be going back-to-back, according to AI, as he will have to settle for second this season.
After winning his first-ever Drivers’ Championship in 2025, ahead of Verstappen and Piastri, all eyes will be on how Norris performs in 2026 and how he defends his title, but according to AI, he’ll be unsuccessful, narrowly missing out on going back-to-back.
Seven race wins, 18 podiums in total, and 423 points won capped off a remarkable 2025 for the Brit, and he’ll be up there once again in 2026, but it won’t be the top spot if AI is correct.
“McLaren enters as back-to-back Constructors’ Champs with momentum. Norris often edges Piastri in qualifying, and their car showed top-three pace/reliability. Expect them to win races early and fight for the title,” AI said.
We’re going to have back-to-back first-time champions, according to AI, as they have predicted that Charles Leclerc of Ferrari will win the 2026 Drivers’ Championship.
It’s no secret that the Prancing Horse has looked strong in pre-season testing, so that’s probably why AI has backed Leclerc to be crowned champion, but it’s interesting to see they’ve backed him over his more-experienced teammate in Hamilton.
Leclerc finished fifth last season, picking up seven podiums along the way, something his teammate couldn’t achieve just once, so maybe that’s why AI is backing him to get the job done for the iconic constructor this season.
When discussing Leclerc, AI said: “Ferrari looked the class of the field on raw pace, with Leclerc setting the benchmark and Lewis Hamilton providing strong support/data. The new regs suit their engine/aero strengths, and Leclerc’s qualifying edge could shine without DRS chaos.”
As any England fan will tell you, the men’s national team never like to do things the easy way. Sometimes that presents itself as a last-gasp winner. But sometimes that comes in the form of a few disciplinary detours.
Whether it stems from geographical proximity or a controversial chapter in a major tournament, England’s tapestry of fierce rivals is an intriguing one to unpick. But who are the biggest sporting enemies on The Three Lions’ list?
This rivalry goes beyond football. The historical ties from the two World Wars of the 20th century have informed this great feud, with their incredible clashes creating some of the most memorable footballing moments in recent times. Who could forget the drama of England’s 1966 World Cup Final win at the expense of Germany? But the Germans inflicted their own heartbreak at the 1990 World Cup and Euro ’96, eliminating England on penalties at the semifinal stage on both occasions.
More recently, England fans still fondly remember the 1-5 thumping in Munich. But they also wince at the thought of Frank Lampard’s ghost goal in 2010.
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England’s record against Germany |
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|---|---|---|---|
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Played |
Wins |
Draws |
Losses |
|
35 |
14 |
6 |
15 |
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The ten biggest matches in British football history have been named and ranked.
Driven by the Falklands War in 1982, Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal at the 1986 World Cup ensured that this rivalry would last.
It would be reignited at the 1998 tournament, with David Beckham controversially being sent off for kicking out at Diego Simeone before England crashed out on penalties. Beckham would have his revenge though. His winning penalty in the 2002 World Cup encounter helped to condemn Albiceleste to a shock group stage exit.
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England’s record against Argentina |
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|---|---|---|---|
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Played |
Wins |
Draws |
Losses |
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14 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
The oldest international fixture in world football, England and Scotland’s rivalry began on November 30th 1872 with a 0-0 draw. Since then, there have been many memorable episodes.
The rivalry was renewed every year by the annual British Home Championship that took place from 1884 to 1984. There was also the incredible spectacle of Scotland victory at Hampden Park in 1937. Just under 150,000 fans packed into the stadium for the match — an all-time European attendance record that still stands today. And who could forget the 1977 Wembley pitch invasion after Scotland’s 2-1 win? The Tartan Army stormed on, famously snapping the crossbars in celebration.
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England’s record against Scotland |
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|---|---|---|---|
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Played |
Wins |
Draws |
Losses |
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116 |
49 |
41 |
26 |
Despite just 18 encounters overall, the England-Ireland rivalry has endured in part thanks to the two nations’ complex social and political relationship.
Ireland made history in 1949 with their 0-2 win at Goodison Park. They became the first non-British team to beat England on home soil. Ireland also won the first major tournament meeting between the two, courtesy of a Ray Houghton winner at Euro ’88. The rivalry is also infamously remembered for the 1995 Lansdowne Road riot that saw a friendly in Dublin abandoned after 27 minutes due to severe rioting by a number of English hooligans.
The rivalry was recently renewed by the debate over dual nationality. Both Declan Rice and Jack Grealish switched eligibility to England, having already represented Ireland. Grealish had played for the U21s six times, whilst Rice made three senior appearances for Ireland. Both players were heavily booed during the 2024 Nations League clash before both ironically scored the game’s only two goals.
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England’s record against Ireland |
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|---|---|---|---|
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Played |
Wins |
Draws |
Losses |
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19 |
8 |
8 |
2 |
Not quite a bitter rivalry, but one forged in destiny. England, for some reason, are inexplicably linked to the south-east European side. And whilst the two nations lack historical hatred, their respectful rivalry is marked by several dramatic modern moments.
Chief among them, England’s 2018 World Cup heartbreak. After Kieran Trippier’s opening goal in the semifinal, Croatia fought back to force extra time. Mario Mandzukic’s 109th minute winner was ecstasy for Croatia, but agony for the Three Lions.
Croatia also shockingly knocked ended England’s Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. With England needing a win to break into the top two in Group E, the excellent Croatian team defeated England 2-3 at Wembley. The enduring image of that night was England manager Steve McLaren shielding himself with an umbrella as European qualification slipped away. He was relieved of his duties the following day.
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England’s record against Croatia |
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Played |
Wins |
Draws |
Losses |
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12 |
7 |
2 |
3 |
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Pubs across the country are set to stay open until the early hours for England’s Round of 16 match against Mexico. The World Cup knockout kicks-off at 1am on Monday, July 6, which equates to 6pm in Mexico City, and Keir Starmer is set to introduce an emergency law change so that pubs can remain open until 5am.
The UK Prime Minister is set to leave his position on July 9, but has won back some people’s trust following one of his final decisions in Number 10.
More to follow…
There is a lot of excitement in N17 at present with Tottenham splashing the cash for Roberto De Zerbi.
Following back-to-back 17th place finishes, Spurs are spending big as they look to get back to their previous heights towards the top of the Premier League table.
Signing Martin Dubravka, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi on free transfers to bolster their squad, last month the club also completed the £52m signing of centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton & Hove Albion.
Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali are now set to follow for £85m and £100m respectively after Tottenham struck agreements with West Ham and Newcastle United for the midfielders.
Much more still needs to be done in improving De Zerbi’s squad, with attacking players required after the club’s struggles in the final third last season.
One position Tottenham need to address is on the left of their attack after failing to replace Son Heung-min following his switch to LAFC last August.
According to The Independent, Bournemouth ace Eli Junior Kroupi tops a three-player shortlist for that position.
Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are also keen, with the Cherries looking to receive over £80m if they decide to cash in on their highly-rated attacker.
The report states that Rafael Leao has been broached as an option in informal discussions with his club AC Milan, while there is a possibility that they once again move for Manchester City winger Savinho.
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In terms of Leao, he would be another statement signing if Tottenham can agree on a deal with Milan for ‘one of the best wingers in Europe’.
Mainly operating from the left but also capable of playing centrally, the Portugal international has contributed regularly for the Rossoneri with 80 goals and 65 assists in 291 games for the Italian giants.
After already agreeing on transfers for Fernandes and Tonali, a move for Leao would be a real signal of intent from Tottenham that they really do mean business in the transfer market after their recent Premier League woes.
Tottenham desperately need to improve in the final third if they are to climb the Premier League table.
Last season, Richarlison finished top goalscorer in all competitions with 12 goals, and it was defensive players Joao Palhinha, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero who were next in line in the charts.
Dominic Solanke could only manage six goals in an injury-hit campaign, with Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani both contributing five and Mathys Tel chipping in with four.
Given the need for goals, Leao could more than play his part after hitting double figures for Milan in each of his last five seasons at the San Siro.
Following the club’s desire to improve their midfield with the additions of Fernandes and Tonali, Tottenham now need to do likewise in attack if they are to make big strides under De Zerbi.
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