Mercedes has dominated the opening three rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 season, as new regulations and the arrival of Cadillac widened the 11-team qualifying spread to 3.63 seconds and the race gap to 3.60 seconds.
Across those weekends Mercedes averaged a 0.56s qualifying and 0.53s race advantage over Ferrari; McLaren (+0.78s q, +0.82s r) and Red Bull (+0.97s q, +1.26s r) follow, while Aston Martin and Cadillac occupy the rear.
The field splits into five groups: Mercedes alone; Ferrari and McLaren as immediate pursuers; an upper midfield from Red Bull to Audi; Williams isolated; and Aston Martin with Cadillac trailing. The analysis notes Ferrari-powered cars gain roughly 0.03s per lap on Mercedes in races, possibly due to stronger starts or engines optimized for race distance.
Teams brought updates at Suzuka, but most gains appear driven by a better understanding of the new cars and engine mapping, with Cadillac showing encouraging development despite early deficits.
This summary is based on coverage by Motorsport.
Read the full article at Motorsport.
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