F1 2026 team rankings: winners, losers and midfield surprises after the first three rounds. A full F1 2026 team-by-team review after the first three rounds.

F1 2026: which teams are performing well and which are struggling before the Miami GP

Here is a general assessment of each team’s performance after the first three rounds of the season.

The regulations introduced for the 2026 season have sparked significant controversy and debate. Despite mixed opinions, the opening three races of the new year have already provided plenty of talking points.

With a five-week gap created by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Jeddah Grands Prix, Formula 1 enters its first break of the season. Even though only three races – plus one sprint event – have been completed, it is already interesting to analyse how each team has adapted to the new regulatory framework.

Teams performing well after the first three rounds

Mercedes: It is no surprise to see the Silver Arrows at the top of the “performing well” category. Simply put, at this stage they are the team that has best interpreted the new regulations, putting the strongest power unit on the grid into competition. The only real weakness of the W17 is race starts, which were particularly poor in both China and Japan.

Ferrari: The Prancing Horse has defended itself very well in the opening races of the season. In terms of internal combustion engine performance, the gap to Mercedes is still significant. However, the SF-26 is clearly the car with the best chassis, and strong starts have been enough to secure at least a podium in every race weekend. With ADUO activation, Ferrari could definitely challenge Mercedes more consistently.

Alpine: The change of power unit compared to 2025 has transformed the French team’s performance. Pierre Gasly more than Franco Colapinto has shown that the A526 is a very solid car. In fact, he is the only driver – alongside the Mercedes and Ferrari line-ups – to have finished every race in the points so far. It is a consistent and fast car that, with the right upgrades, could become the clear best of the midfield.

Haas: The American team currently sits fourth in the constructors’ championship, a result that speaks for itself. The race pace of the VF26 is extremely strong, and its shared mechanical philosophy with Ferrari helps it manage tyre degradation effectively, making it competitive in many conditions. If ADUO addresses the power deficit of the internal combustion engine, Haas could regularly fight Alpine at every race.

Cadillac: The second American team, despite scoring no points so far, deserves to be included among the “performing well” group. The pace is still slow and reliability issues remain, but finishing all three races with at least one car is a major achievement for such a new and inexperienced project. The potential for improvement is significant, and sitting second-to-last – ahead of Aston Martin – was far from guaranteed.

Teams underperforming after the first three rounds

Aston Martin: The biggest disappointment of the season so far. Adrian Newey’s team has not managed to produce a competitive car. The aerodynamic concept is interesting but too extreme for a Formula 1 era that increasingly rewards power. The Honda power unit is a complete disaster: lacking power and still affected by unresolved vibrations. Only time will tell whether ADUO and upcoming AMR26 upgrades will be enough to bring the car back into the points.

Williams: One of the most talked-about teams of 2025 has started the new season on a very negative note. Despite having one of the best power units on the grid, the FW48 is overweight and far behind Alpine and Haas. A major “diet” and strong internal motivation are needed to bring the team back to last year’s level. The only points so far came in China thanks to multiple retirements.

Red Bull: The team featuring Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar is facing major difficulties under the new regulations. The fully in-house power unit is the only positive element of the new project, despite being the team’s biggest technical innovation. Like Williams, the car’s weight prevents the drivers from extracting full performance and achieving the ideal balance. In addition, the first upgrades introduced in Japan on Verstappen’s car were not satisfactory at all. There is therefore a huge amount of work needed to return to the top of the standings.

Teams with an incomplete start after the first three rounds

McLaren: Too many reliability issues for the reigning world champions. The double retirement in China before the race even started is unacceptable. As shown in Suzuka, the MCL40 is a very competitive car with strong potential. The main issue is unpredictability, which has repeatedly prevented both drivers from completing meaningful mileage in the new car.

Racing Bulls: The Faenza-based team does not fully belong among the “performing well” group, as the constructors’ standings do not accurately reflect its true performance. Reliability remains the main issue, and the points scored are largely down to the drivers’ execution. Across the first three races, the team has not maximised its potential, showing there is still a clear gap to the top midfield runners.

Audi: The new German entrant has delivered a mixed impression. The opening race was excellent, with Gabriel Bortoleto finishing ninth, but the following two events fell short of expectations. Race starts are a disaster – even worse than Mercedes – and strong qualifying performances are being wasted by losing positions on lap one. Aerodynamics look solid and the German power unit has shown decent performance, but many areas still require significant improvement.