The 2026 Formulation 1 title race has develop into a two-horse race between Mercedes duo Kimi Antonelli and George Russell with eight rounds remaining.
Antonelli leads Russell by 66 factors forward of this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia and will probably be fascinating to see how the Italian responds following what he known as his “worst weekend” of the season final trip in Baku.
Relying on the standard of Mercedes’ main improve bundle that will likely be launched in Malaysia this week, we may see the Silver Arrows dominate the final third of the season.
Nonetheless, there’s one driver everybody on the grid mentions each weekend on the subject of who may problem, or who will likely be a risk – and that is Max Verstappen.
This yr is the primary season Verstappen has not challenged for the title since 2020, having received 4 championships in a row from 2021 to 2024 and coming simply two factors in need of an unbelievable comeback in 2025 to defeat Lando Norris.
After a troublesome begin to 2026, Purple Bull seem like on an upward trajectory once more and historical past reveals Verstappen will likely be a difficulty for different title protagonists.
A repeat of 2016?
Ten years in the past, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton have been duking it out for the title and Rosberg simply got here out on high.
It was an unbelievable, tense ending to the season however throughout the run-in, regardless of Mercedes having a dominant automotive, a 19-year-old Verstappen gave Rosberg and Hamilton a headache on a couple of events.
“My god, having him round within the races! The chance of a DNF for myself, it will increase like 10-fold,” Rosberg instructed Sky Sports activities F1 when reflecting on 2016.
“On my approach to the championship, I had him round me each race within the final 4 races. He handed me I believe in three of these 4 races, in a tussle.”
Nico Rosberg, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton on the rostrum on the 2016 Japanese GP (AP)
On the Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen discovered himself forward of Hamilton within the closing phases and was ready to defend aggressively of their struggle for second to the frustration of the British driver.
Hamilton claimed Verstappen “moved underneath braking” which led to the FIA clamping down on such a manoeuvre which grew to become referred to as the “Verstappen Rule”.
Whereas Brazil 2016 is remembered for Verstappen’s excellent comeback drive in torrential rain to the rostrum, he was really operating in second earlier within the race after dancing across the exterior of Rosberg in Flip 3.
We’re but to have a moist race or qualifying in 2026 and, in concept, the vehicles with most downforce needs to be the most effective within the moist. However Verstappen’s means within the rain can’t be underestimated and he will likely be prepared to take dangers when the Mercedes drivers could not, equally to Rosberg in 2016.
Max Verstappen holding up Nico Rosberg on the 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Photograph by Purple Bull Content material Pool/Clive Mason/Getty Photographs)
And within the season finale, Verstappen spun on the opening lap and dropped to the again however ran an alternate technique and, in the course of the race, had Rosberg behind him, who was on more energizing tyres after pitting and wanted to overhaul the Purple Bull driver.
“Tony [Ross, Rosberg’s race engineer] saying it’s important we go Verstappen for the championship…holy moly, significantly!” defined Rosberg.
“The emotions that I had within the battle and proper after after I realised that I handed him, I’ve by no means had that in a race automotive earlier than ever in my life.”
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Are Purple Bull now a real risk to Mercedes?
Mercedes have persistently had a fast automotive at each race in 2026, not at all times the quickest, however adequate to at the least struggle for the win.
Ferrari, McLaren and Purple Bull however have been up and down – all three having clear weaknesses which makes them uncompetitive at sure tracks.
On common, Purple Bull have had the fourth quickest automotive however Verstappen impressively has probably the most podiums (seven) of the non-Mercedes drivers and 5 of these have come within the final six rounds.
Purple Bull introduced their final massive improve bundle of the season to Baku and each drivers have been pleased with the brand new components, which included a brand new flooring physique, diffuser and sidepods.
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Highlights from the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Verstappen was lower than two tenths from snatching victory away from Russell whereas Isack Hadjar completed a powerful third in his first race for the reason that finish of July – it marked the primary time in over two years two Purple Bull drivers have featured on the rostrum.
“On paper, Baku was probably the most beneficial [track] when it comes to automotive traits,” mentioned Purple Bull staff principal Laurent Mekies.
“Equally, I believe the efficiency we have proven within the race is giving us respectable hope that we are going to get one other couple of events earlier than the tip of the yr.
“On high of getting a few different events to get that first win, it is also good to go on tracks the place it will be tougher, as a result of it is precisely what we have to be confronted with to proceed to progress.”
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Purple Bull drivers Isack Hadjar and Max Verstappen replicate on the Azerbaijan GP
The large take a look at of Purple Bull’s upgrades will come this weekend on the Sepang Worldwide Circuit – a extra conventional observe with massive medium to high-speed corners that checks a automotive’s aerodynamics.
Tyre put on has been a difficulty for Purple Bull but when their Baku upgrades have mounted that, Verstappen and Hadjar needs to be aggressive once more.
Verstappen: If alternative to win is there, we go for it
This can be a milestone Mekies alluded to earlier as Purple Bull and Verstappen have received a race yearly since 2016.
Verstappen will play issues down about wanting to maintain his streak of profitable in 10 consecutive seasons (the document is 15 held by Hamilton and Michael Schumacher) alive, however certainly deep down he’s very eager to face on the highest step of the rostrum at the least as soon as this yr.
“If Mercedes is bringing an improve and it really works, then they take a step forward, and that is not what you need. It can make it much more troublesome to win,” mentioned Verstappen.
“However we’ll attempt each single weekend and, after all, if the chance is there, we go for it.”
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George Russell describes his tense showdown with Max Verstappen for the Azerbaijan GP win
Relying on how Mercedes’ upgrades carry out and the way the Purple Bull fares on extra conventional circuits over the rest of the season, it’s exhausting to say which will likely be Verstappen’s finest likelihood of profitable.
Las Vegas in November is similar to Baku with low tyre degradation and lengthy straights, whereas Mexico Metropolis in October will likely be attention-grabbing as a consequence of its excessive altitude and which energy items carry out finest at 2000m above sea stage. Within the earlier rules, the Honda energy unit was very sturdy at altitude.
Even when Verstappen is unable to win, he will likely be feisty on opening laps and Security Automotive restarts, realizing he has nothing to lose in opposition to the Mercedes drivers.
Though Antonelli and Russell don’t must beat Verstappen, they have to be cautious when preventing the Dutchman as a result of, as he reminded us in Baku, is unrelenting and by no means makes your life straightforward on the observe.
Sky Sports activities F1’s stay schedule Bahrain GP schedule in Malaysia
Thursday October 1
7am: Drivers’ Press Convention
10am: Paddock Uncut
Friday October 2
5am: Bahrain GP Observe One (session begins at 5.30am)*
7.30am: Crew Bosses’ Press Convention
8.45am: Bahrain GP Observe Two (session begins at 9am)*
10.15am: The F1 Present*
Saturday October 3
5.15am: Bahrain GP Observe Three (session begins at 5.30am)*
8am: Bahrain GP Qualifying build-up*
9am: BAHRAIN GP QUALIFYING*
Sunday October 4
6.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Bahrain GP build-up*
8am: THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX*
10am: Chequered Flag: Bahrain GP response*
*additionally on Sky Sports activities Fundamental Occasion
Formulation 1 heads to Malaysia for the primary time since 2017 because it hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix on the Sepang Worldwide Circuit – watch stay protection from Friday morning, stay on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime