Forward of this weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Sky Sports activities F1’s Anthony Davidson tells us who options in his high six driver pairings.
Davidson lists the groups as they completed in final yr’s Constructors’ Championship and you’ll have your say in our ballot additional under…..
McLaren – Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri
That is undeniably top-of-the-line driver line-ups in F1 proper now. They chased one another exhausting for the 2025 drivers’ title, and for good motive, as a result of they’re so evenly matched.
Collectively, they’re a really sturdy mixture, who complement one another very effectively. And they’re a giant a part of the explanation why McLaren wrapped up the Constructors’ Championship so early final yr.
They had been within the strongest automotive, however they actually wrung each ounce of efficiency out of the equipment beneath them. So, I am excited to see what they will do that yr.
Mercedes – George Russell and Kimi Antonelli
I actually loved watching Kimi Antonelli studying on the job final yr. He was top-of-the-line rookies of the season, for my part. He is exceptionally naturally gifted, he is a tough employee, he is filled with vitality and dedication, and works very effectively with George Russell, his extra skilled team-mate. The staff love him – he brings such good vitality and positivity to the staff.
And with George, that stability he brings and professionalism, with unquestionable pace as effectively – very fast in qualifying, he is discovered find out how to put races collectively as effectively now. And all of the boring issues like taking care of tyres and all the opposite stuff, George is throughout it.
So I believe this driver pairing is absolutely thrilling and will and will ship sturdy outcomes this yr.
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Martin Brundle believes George Russell has the boldness to compete for the title if his automotive permits it
Pink Bull – Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar
Clearly, it goes with out saying, Max by himself, I consider is the strongest driver on the grid. There are very, only a few areas of enchancment left for him, and I nonetheless consider he will get higher each season.
I believe the one blot on his copybook final yr was in Barcelona, the place I believe his mood obtained the higher of him. And perhaps with out that, he may very well be a five-time world champion proper now. He may have gained it final yr with out that single second. However he learns from his errors and that is what’s actually spectacular.
He is joined by Hadjar this yr, who was a standout rookie final season and stunned many, I believe together with myself. So, I am actually intrigued to see how he will deal with the stress cooker of being in Pink Bull with Verstappen as his team-mate, as a result of to this point no one’s survived.
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Max Verstappen displays on the Pink Bull’s operating in the course of the Bahrain pre-season testing, having obtained a powerful variety of laps beneath his belt
Ferrari – Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
On paper, you’d say it is the strongest line-up, however Lewis has discovered issues powerful the final couple of years. Let’s have a look at if he can bounce again with this new iteration of automobiles. I consider they are going to go well with his model extra. I believe he’ll be capable to get extra out of the tools than he has executed within the final couple of years with the ground-effects automobiles.
Leclerc is an exceptional driver, super-fast, most likely one among, if not the quickest drivers on the grid, particularly in qualifying. He would not thoughts a automotive that strikes round beneath him. He is very flamboyant in the best way he drives, and I actually get pleasure from watching that.
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Craig Slater and Martin Brundle evaluate and rank all of the F1 groups after pre-season testing
However I believe the pair of them final yr at sure factors discovered issues powerful. I am certain the automotive wasn’t straightforward to drive, so let’s have a look at how they go this yr. I am anticipating them to be a drive to be reckoned with as soon as once more.
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Sky Sports activities’ Craig Slater explains how the present battle within the Center East may have an effect on the opening race in Australia and the F1 calendar
Williams – Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz
For a staff that wasn’t troubling the midfield simply a few seasons in the past, counting on drivers paying their very own approach, Williams have had an enormous shake-up.
I believe the arrival of Sainz has been applauded by many, it has been welcomed by everybody within the staff at Williams. I’ve cherished watching his strategy. His professionalism and dedication to perfection is there for all to see.
The motive force line-up in that staff, by bringing Sainz in, not solely did it spur on Albon even additional and pushed him to new heights, but it surely’s pushed the entire staff to need to ship extra and to be extra bold than ever. It is unimaginable to see the distinction {that a} driver signing could make in that regard.
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Sky Sports activities F1’s David Croft takes a more in-depth have a look at how F1 in 2026 will evolve as the game begins a brand new period of recharge, that includes extra electrical energy, new groups, and engine suppliers
Haas – Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon
Ending off the highest six was a tougher proposition as a result of there are a lot of different driving pairings that may very well be put in that blend, however I’ve gone with the Haas duo.
Ocon is skilled and we have at all times seen that when the stress’s on him, he usually performs very effectively, and when he is in a great place, he can ship. However I believe when the automotive’s to not his liking, and if the entire scenario’s to not his liking, he can typically let his head drop, which might occur to anyone.
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Craig Slater and Martin Brundle evaluate and rank all of the F1 groups after pre-season testing
However I do really feel that having Bearman there was an actual optimistic for Ocon and clearly for the staff. Ollie is at all times thrilling to look at. Clearly, final yr, being a rookie, there have been a number of errors right here and there that crept in, however that is to be anticipated. His standout efficiency to take fourth place in Mexico was genuinely eye-opening for the entire paddock.
The 2 of them do bounce off one another effectively and I believe it has been an actual optimistic for the staff. I hope that the automotive can shock folks this yr as effectively, together with their very own drivers, and then you definately’ll see probably even higher performances from each.
Sky Sports activities F1’s Australian GP schedule
Thursday March 5
3am: Drivers’ Press Convention
6am: Paddock Uncut
9.45pm: F3 Observe
10.55pm: F2 Observe
Friday March 6
1am: Australian GP Observe One (session begins at 1.30am)*
2.55am: F3 Qualifying*
3.30am: Group Bosses Press Convention
3.50am: F2 Qualifying*
4.35am: Australian GP Observe Two (session begins at 5am)*
6.15am: The F1 Present*
Saturday March 7
0.10am: F3 Dash*
1.10am: Australian GP Observe Three (session begins at 1.30am)*
3.05am: F2 Dash*
4.10am: Australian GP Qualifying build-up*
5am: AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING*
7am: Ted’s Qualifying Pocket book*
9.45pm: F3 Function Race*
Sunday March 8
12.20am: F2 Function Race*
2.30am: Australian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
4am: THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX*
6am: Australian GP response: Chequered Flag*
7am: Ted’s Pocket book*
7.55am: Australian GP race replay*
10am: Australian GP highlights (additionally on Sky One)*
*Additionally on Sky Sports activities Fundamental Occasion
Watch each race of the 2026 Method 1 season stay on Sky Sports activities, beginning with the Australian Grand Prix this weekend. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
