Matt and Tommy dive into their bold predictions for the 2026 F1 season, focusing on the challenging midfield and backmarker battles amid major regulation changes. They debate the struggles of Cadillac and Aston Martin, with Bottas and Perez expected to fight at the bottom, while rookies like Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson face tough seasons. The hosts highlight the unpredictability of teams like Racing Bulls and VCarb, and express concerns over Williams' performance. Their candid, head-to-head style makes for an engaging forecast full of surprises and differing opinions.
We’re back with the first part of one of our most anticipated podcasts of the year: that’s right, testing times and vibes are helping us to predict the ENTIRE CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE. And we have changed our minds aplenty since our preseason predictions…
Join us tomorrow for our top ten!
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"...they've got two very experienced and good drivers and race winners, but, you know, I don't think it's a crazy shout to say that one of them is going to have to be"
Race winners are drivers who have already won races before, so they know how to be the best in competitions.
Race winners are drivers who have previously won races, indicating experience and skill in competitive motorsport environments.
"...he was always won in a false India that could get a podium in a midfield car in an absolute bonkers race."
A midfield car is a race car that usually finishes in the middle, not the fastest but not the slowest. Sometimes it can do better if the race is crazy or other cars have problems.
In racing, a midfield car refers to a vehicle that is neither among the fastest nor the slowest in the competition, typically finishing in the middle of the pack. These cars usually have less performance compared to front-runners but can capitalize on chaotic races to achieve better results.
"...he was always won in a false India that could get a podium in a midfield car in an absolute bonkers race."
Getting a podium means finishing in the top three in a race, like first, second, or third place. It's a big deal and drivers get awards for it.
A podium in racing means finishing a race in one of the top three positions, usually first, second, or third. Drivers who finish on the podium often stand on a raised platform to receive trophies and recognition.
"I think Aston Martin are going to have a poor season. They're going to definitely have a poor start to the season unless this is the greatest sandbagging we've ever seen in the history of the sport"
Aston Martin is a famous car company from Britain that makes fast and fancy cars and also races in Formula 1.
Aston Martin is a British luxury automotive manufacturer known for producing high-performance sports cars and participating in Formula 1 racing.
"They're going to definitely have a poor start to the season unless this is the greatest sandbagging we've ever seen in the history of the sport where they don't want to show any Adrian Newey innovations"
Sandbagging means a team or driver is pretending to be slower or worse than they really are, so others don't know how good they really are.
Sandbagging in motorsports refers to deliberately underperforming or hiding a car's true potential during testing or early races to mislead competitors.
"unless this is the greatest sandbagging we've ever seen in the history of the sport where they don't want to show any Adrian Newey innovations and they just didn't want to run"
Adrian Newey is a famous person who designs very fast and clever Formula 1 race cars.
Adrian Newey is a renowned Formula 1 car designer known for creating innovative and highly competitive racing cars.
"They've done a brilliant job again, similar to Cadillac in terms of the mileage that they managed to get in Bahrain."
Mileage in racing means how far a race car can go during a race or testing without breaking down. It's important to know if the car can last the whole race.
In racing, mileage refers to the total distance a car covers during testing or a race, which is important for assessing durability and reliability of the car and its components.
"I think that in some ways it works in his favour if VCarb aren't having these random podium shouts because it gives him time to learn Formula One, to deal with the pressure that we know that rookies have struggled"
Formula One is a type of car racing where the fastest and best cars race on tracks around the world. It's like the top league of car racing.
Formula One is the highest class of international single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the FIA. It features the fastest and most technologically advanced cars competing in a series of races called Grands Prix.
""...I just don't see a racing bulls and a VCarb being as strong as some of the other teams...""
Red Bull Racing is a famous team in Formula 1, which is the highest level of car racing. They build very fast cars and often win races.
Red Bull Racing is a prominent Formula 1 team known for their competitive cars and strong performances. They are often referred to simply as 'Red Bull' or 'Racing Bulls' in casual conversation.
"And yeah, they have a great Mercedes engine underneath them. But it sounds like they're having a lot of trouble as they missed the test."
Mercedes is a big car company that makes engines for racing cars in Formula 1. Their engines help the cars go very fast and perform well.
Mercedes-Benz is a major automotive manufacturer that also supplies engines to various Formula 1 teams. Their F1 power units are known for high performance and reliability.
"16th place I have gone for, my guy Fernando Alonso. I just don't, I'm not feeling good vibes about the Aston Martin, of course. Is it even delusional that he could be up in the dizzying heights of 16th? It's that bad for Aston Martin at the moment."
Formula 1 is a type of car racing where the fastest and most advanced cars compete on different tracks around the world.
Formula 1 is the highest class of international single-seater auto racing sanctioned by the FIA, featuring the fastest and most technologically advanced race cars.
"I think they'll improve and Alonso is a driver that, you know, I think even to the like McLaren Honda days, I remember him getting like a fifth place or something in one of the races where they're absolutely awful."
McLaren Honda was a team in Formula 1 where the car maker McLaren worked with the engine maker Honda, but they had a hard time winning races.
McLaren Honda refers to the Formula 1 team partnership between McLaren and Honda, which was active in the 2015-2017 seasons but struggled with reliability and performance.
"Like this 1973 Dodge Charger on eBay that has been tucked away in an Arizona barn for over 40 years, only 55,000 miles and somehow in great running order, even as a rare sunroof."
The Dodge Charger is a famous fast car from America made in the 1970s. The 1973 version is special because it looks different and can be very powerful.
The Dodge Charger is a classic American muscle car known for its powerful engines and iconic styling, especially popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The 1973 model is part of the second generation of Chargers and is notable for its design changes and performance options.
"Like this 1973 Dodge Charger on eBay that has been tucked away in an Arizona barn for over 40 years, only 55,000 miles and somehow in great running order..."
A barn find is a car that was left in a barn or garage for a long time and then found again. It usually means the car is old but still mostly original.
A 'barn find' refers to a vehicle that has been stored and forgotten for many years, often in a barn or similar structure, and is rediscovered in relatively original condition. These cars can be highly sought after by collectors.
"There are thousands of cars like this on eBay from rare finds like the Pontiac Grand Prix SJ to unique builds and your next daily driver..."
The Pontiac Grand Prix SJ is a fancier and sportier version of a Pontiac car called the Grand Prix. It usually has a stronger engine and nicer features.
The Pontiac Grand Prix SJ is a performance-oriented trim of the Grand Prix, a personal luxury car produced by Pontiac. The SJ trim typically included sportier features and more powerful engine options compared to base models.
"in the championship table, which as of right now is one of the most sort of generous predictions I could have put him at."
It's a list that shows which drivers or teams are winning or losing in a racing season based on how many points they have earned.
The championship table in racing is the ranking of drivers or teams based on their accumulated points throughout the season, determining their position in the competition.
"Haas were very impressive in the pre-season test, but then so were Williams last year when they topped the test."
Haas is a team from America that races cars in Formula 1, the highest level of car racing.
Haas F1 Team is an American Formula 1 racing team that joined the sport in 2016. They are known for their technical partnership with Ferrari and have been steadily improving their performance.
"Haas were very impressive in the pre-season test, but then so were Williams last year when they topped the test. We can take as much as we can from pre-season. That's right, isn't it? Williams were the fastest car at the end of pre-season testing last year."
Before the racing season starts, teams drive their cars on the track to see how well they work and fix any problems. This is called pre-season testing.
Pre-season testing is a period before the official racing season where teams test their cars on track to evaluate performance and reliability. It helps teams gather data and make adjustments before competitive races begin.
"We saw what he did to basically be able to be in that seat in Alpine in the first place where he impressed at Williams massively and he came in and we all questioned, oh, okay, Colopinto is giving out Alpine a run for his money here."
Alpine is a car company from France that also races in Formula 1, which is the top level of car racing. They make fast cars and try to win races with their team.
Alpine is a French automotive brand and Formula 1 team known for its performance cars and participation in top-level motorsport. In Formula 1, Alpine is the rebranded team formerly known as Renault, competing with a strong focus on engineering and development.
"I think they'll have a great car. They've got a great engine and I think they'll be"
The engine is the part of the car that makes it go by burning fuel and turning that into power. In race cars, engines are very powerful and help the car go really fast.
An engine is the component of a vehicle that converts fuel into mechanical power to move the car. In Formula 1, engines are highly specialized and engineered for maximum performance and efficiency.
"But it really does depend. Of course, there's cost caps, there's things in"
Cost caps are rules that stop racing teams from spending too much money, so all teams have a fair chance to compete.
Cost caps are financial limits imposed on Formula 1 teams to control spending and promote competitive balance by restricting how much money teams can spend during a season.
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