Predicting the 2026 F1 Constructors' Championship
- Matt Hylen
- 19 hours ago
- 4 min read
The F1 content rolls on as every team is getting ready for their first race weekend of 2026. With my Drivers' Standings Predictions published and finalized (article linked below!), here is a look at how I think the Constructors' Standings will look by the end of this unpredictable season!
Cadillac
I think this is the consensus expectation for Cadillac. They're a brand new team attempting to learn a brand new formula, so it's normal for a team like this to finish at the bottom of the pack. I think they have a great team behind them and can work their way up over the coming years, but for 2026 it is looking like a last place finish.
Aston Martin
As the days pass, the more concern I have for Aston Martin as a team. With reports now saying the vibrations caused by the car could cause the drivers permanent nerve damage if driven for too long, it is looking far from good for Aston Martin. With that said, I do think they will ultimately figure things out to the extent where they are better than Cadillac at the very least. Yet, it will take too long to justify anything higher in the standings.
VCARB
With this year being a brand new era, I think it may take a year or two for the junior Red Bull team to figure things out. Their lineup of Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson is very solid and could be fighting for points finishes throughout the year, but ultimately I trust the development of the other teams more than I do with VCARB in 2026.
Audi
I think Audi could surprise a lot of people this season. Sure, they are technically a new name coming into the sport, but they built a strong foundation in 2025 that I think will exceed expectations in 2026. Look out for Audi to be a points contender more often than originally thought. With that said, inconsistency plagued them last year, which concerns me a bit.
Haas
Haas has looked fantastic in testing, which I think carries over to the start of the year. I absolutely see a world where they are in a three-team fight for the top of the midfield. However, due to a lack of funding and resources, their development may hinder their chance of beating out the other top midfield contenders. I like Bearman a lot this year, but have doubts about Ocon. If they can stay consistent throughout the season, Haas should make things interesting.
Alpine
All signs have pointed towards a huge performance jump for Alpine in 2026. They have a good lineup, with the most amount of time spent researching the 2026 car. Alpine took a huge gamble last season, with Flavio Briatore even promising a "fantastic season" from Alpine. Time will tell, but a 6th place finish should be considered a good season for Alpine.
Williams
This year should be a tale of two halves for Williams. With all the issues arising during testing, they may have a slow start to the year. However, if anyone can find a way to turn their fortunes around, it's James Vowles. I believe in his vision, his drivers, and the team's ability to fight and win the midfield battle by the end of the year.
Red Bull
Though I think the top 4 will be extremely close, I have Red Bull getting the worst of it by the end of the year. With the top of the field so talented, we may see Red Bull being a wildcard team in terms of which weekend they show up and which they don't. I think their driver lineup of Hadjar and Verstappen can take them far, but I also think the car's pace won't be that of the top 3.
McLaren
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will likely elevate this team more than it should be, but McLaren should ultimately take a step back this season. They have not been overly impressive in testing, but have a driver lineup that will outperform the car's ability. With that said, the reason I do not have them higher is because I feel the top two teams will separate themselves from the rest of the pack rather quickly.
Ferrari
Call it delusional, but I am in on the Ferrari hype this season. Charles Leclerc is a top-3 driver in the sport, while Hamilton is primed for a bounce-back year now that he has gotten his joy in racing back. Not only that, but Ferrari have shown no signs that they won't be among the top contenders. Testing looked great, both drivers seem happy, and the necessary changes were made in order to make a legitimate push towards a championship. I'm sure I will look back and regret this, but if this is not the year we see Ferrari make that jump, I don't know what is.
Mercedes
It is hard to predict anyone other than Mercedes winning the Constructors' Championship at this point. Though we don't know the extent of their true pace just yet, from what we have seen it looks top-tier. Both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli are ready to compete at the highest level and should deliver multiple race wins throughout the season. I already predicted a Mercedes champion in the Drivers' Standings, so it only makes sense for Mercedes to reign best of the rest among the Constructors' Championship in 2026. They will be the team to beat all season, but I see them starting off with a bang and not looking back.
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