A Formula 1 revolution: Biggest storylines to watch as the 2026 season begins

When Formula 1 returns this weekend for a new season, the cars will look slimmer, an American auto giant will join the grid and the U.S. audience will be watching on Apple TV.

When Formula 1 returns this weekend for a new season, the cars will look slimmer, an American auto giant will join the grid and the U.S. audience will be watching on Apple TV rather than ESPN.

The year 2026 is shaping up to be pivotal for F1, with a new generation of cars offering up a moment of truth for the sport’s aging legends while creating tantalizing opportunities for veterans eying a trophy and new up-and-comers looking to shine.

Here are seven storylines to watch ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, which begins Saturday night in the U.S.

It has been called the biggest regulation change in F1 history, scrambling the field and creating intrigue about who will come out ahead. The newer cars are more agile and more reliant on battery power, reshaping how drivers approach racing.

The changes are part of F1’s ambitious goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2030. They’ll upend driving styles and challenge every racer to rethink cornering and braking and when to conserve power and when to deploy it — putting more emphasis on strategy and long game than raw one-lap pace. And “DRS” will be gone.