F1 GP2 POWER RANKINGS
2026-03-12 · 7 min read · Formula 1/Auto Racing
F1 Power Rankings entering the 2nd GP of the Season.
With the first leg of the 2026 F1 circuit complete, we’re back with our F1 Team Power Rankings for the second Grand Prix of the season, the Heineken Chinese Grand Prix. The Shanghai International Circuit will play host to the first sprint of 2026, and after our first race of the season, some teams are sprinting up our GP2 Power Rankings.
P11: Aston Martin
Last Week: P10
Championship Points: 0
Points From Last GP: 0
Aston Martin’s opening performance in Australia was, in a word, catastrophic. Out of the drivers that finished the race, Lance Stroll finished dead last and 15 laps off the pace. However, that’s an improvement, considering how he didn’t bother to enter qualifying. Meanwhile, teammate Fernando Alonso didn’t even finish the race. Adrian Newey has a lot of work to do, but with reports of him blaming the Honda power unit, and Honda blaming his indecisive and ever-changing designs, things may get worse before they get better, and yes, it could very well get worse. **GULP**
P10: Cadillac
Aston Martin’s opening performance in Australia was, in a word, catastrophic. Out of the drivers that finished the race, Lance Stroll finished dead last and 15 laps off the pace. However, that’s an improvement, considering how he didn’t bother to enter qualifying. Meanwhile, teammate Fernando Alonso didn’t even finish the race. Adrian Newey has a lot of work to do, but with reports of him blaming the Honda power unit, and Honda blaming his indecisive and ever-changing designs, things may get worse before they get better, and yes, it could very well get worse. **GULP**
P10: Cadillac
Last Week: P11
Championship Points: 0
Points From Last GP: 0
In a wild coincidence, both Cadillac drivers lost a rearview mirror in qualifying. However, Cadillac reined it in for Sunday’s race in Melbourne, and Sergio Perez was able to finish the race only three laps off the pace. All things considered, a respectable showing. That said, teammate Valtteri Bottas didn’t finish the race, and we have to reiterate that both vehicles lost a rearview mirror in qualifying. More attention to detail is needed in all facets if this team is to discover any semblance of success in 2026.
P9: Audi
In a wild coincidence, both Cadillac drivers lost a rearview mirror in qualifying. However, Cadillac reined it in for Sunday’s race in Melbourne, and Sergio Perez was able to finish the race only three laps off the pace. All things considered, a respectable showing. That said, teammate Valtteri Bottas didn’t finish the race, and we have to reiterate that both vehicles lost a rearview mirror in qualifying. More attention to detail is needed in all facets if this team is to discover any semblance of success in 2026.
P9: Audi
Last Week: P8
Championship Points: 2
Points From Last GP: 2
Audi gave us the Good, the Bad and the Ugly experience last weekend.
Audi gave us the Good, the Bad and the Ugly experience last weekend.
The Good: Gabriel Bortoleto’s P9 in his first-ever race earned the team two points in their inaugural Grand Prix.
The Bad: Nico Hülkenberg experienced a small, unspecified issue that affected his final run in Q2, causing him to miss out on Q3.
The Ugly: Nico Hülkenberg failed to make it to the starting grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix.
The positives outweigh the negatives, and Audi has vowed to get to the root of the issue before practice in China. Let’s see if this team can step up when they say they will, because for them to compete in the middle tier, they’ll need both cars firing on all cylinders.
P8: Williams
P8: Williams
Last Week: P9
Championship Points: 0
Points From Last GP: 0
Despite Williams finishing the 2026 season opener without recording a point, they leapfrog Audi in our power rankings. Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz Jr. bring stability to this team, and unlike other teams, both of their cars finished the Aussie GP. Williams has the drivers to climb the standings and a car that has shown consistency. However, if they’re going to compete in Grand Prix’s and not just finish them, they have to find a more competitive pace.
P7: Alpine
Despite Williams finishing the 2026 season opener without recording a point, they leapfrog Audi in our power rankings. Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz Jr. bring stability to this team, and unlike other teams, both of their cars finished the Aussie GP. Williams has the drivers to climb the standings and a car that has shown consistency. However, if they’re going to compete in Grand Prix’s and not just finish them, they have to find a more competitive pace.
P7: Alpine
Last Week: P6
Championship Points: 1
Points From Last GP: 1
After an abysmal 2025, Alpine has committed to a better 2026, and Pierre Gasly got them off on the right foot, securing a point in Australia with his P10 finish. Gasly looked in full control of the car for the duration of the race and evidently has room to grow in this car. Meanwhile, Franco Colapinto’s performance went begging. Yes, P14 is respectable in your inaugural race, but Alpine will need more from their second driver should they want to keep pace with the Racing Bulls and Haas.
After an abysmal 2025, Alpine has committed to a better 2026, and Pierre Gasly got them off on the right foot, securing a point in Australia with his P10 finish. Gasly looked in full control of the car for the duration of the race and evidently has room to grow in this car. Meanwhile, Franco Colapinto’s performance went begging. Yes, P14 is respectable in your inaugural race, but Alpine will need more from their second driver should they want to keep pace with the Racing Bulls and Haas.
P6: Racing Bulls
Last Week: P7
Championship Points: 4
Points From Last GP: 4
The Racing Bulls jump a spot in our GP2 Power Rankings off the back of Arvid Lindblad’s stellar performance in Australia. The 18-year-old secured four Championship Points in his F1 debut with a strong P8 finish. Liam Lawson missed out on points but still managed a P13. Lawson has a lot to prove this season if he wants to keep his seat, and he will need to improve to do so. That puts the Racing Bulls in a favourable position to ensure they have the best available drivers in their cars, who are constantly competing race to race.
P5: McLaren
The Racing Bulls jump a spot in our GP2 Power Rankings off the back of Arvid Lindblad’s stellar performance in Australia. The 18-year-old secured four Championship Points in his F1 debut with a strong P8 finish. Liam Lawson missed out on points but still managed a P13. Lawson has a lot to prove this season if he wants to keep his seat, and he will need to improve to do so. That puts the Racing Bulls in a favourable position to ensure they have the best available drivers in their cars, who are constantly competing race to race.
P5: McLaren
Last Week: P3
Championship Points: 10
Points From Last GP: 10
Oscar Piastri crashed en route to the grid. While that’s not ideal, Lando Norris did finish P5. McLaren has a lot of work to do if it wants to defend their title in 2026, let alone stay relevant. It starts with keeping both drivers on the track.
Oscar Piastri crashed en route to the grid. While that’s not ideal, Lando Norris did finish P5. McLaren has a lot of work to do if it wants to defend their title in 2026, let alone stay relevant. It starts with keeping both drivers on the track.
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P4: Red Bull Racing
Last Week: P5
Championship Points: 8
Points From Last GP: 8
Max Verstappen rallied to a P6 finish after crashing out in qualifying and starting 20th on the grid in Australia. The immense climb up the grid earned him Driver of the Day honours and proved that he can still drive the hell out of these cars. Despite his performance, Verstappen stated he didn’t enjoy the race and has voiced his intent to race the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2027. Meanwhile, Isack Hadjar exited the race with engine failure after a strong start. It seemed Red Bull had answered their second driver question, but the car let him down. Red Bull has the tools, but they need to put them together; otherwise, Verstappen won’t have much fun carrying this team for yet another season, which could lead to his exit from the team and perhaps the sport. Speculation aside, Max Verstappen will be racing for Red Bull for the rest of 2026, and that alone makes them a contender to podium at every race this season.
P3: Haas
Max Verstappen rallied to a P6 finish after crashing out in qualifying and starting 20th on the grid in Australia. The immense climb up the grid earned him Driver of the Day honours and proved that he can still drive the hell out of these cars. Despite his performance, Verstappen stated he didn’t enjoy the race and has voiced his intent to race the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2027. Meanwhile, Isack Hadjar exited the race with engine failure after a strong start. It seemed Red Bull had answered their second driver question, but the car let him down. Red Bull has the tools, but they need to put them together; otherwise, Verstappen won’t have much fun carrying this team for yet another season, which could lead to his exit from the team and perhaps the sport. Speculation aside, Max Verstappen will be racing for Red Bull for the rest of 2026, and that alone makes them a contender to podium at every race this season.
P3: Haas
Last Week: P5
Championship Points: 6
Points From Last GP: 6
Haas looks primed for their best-ever F1 season, and they didn’t disappoint in their 2026 debutant performance. Oliver Bearman pushed a furious pace that resulted in a P7 finish and six Championship Points. Teammate Esteban Ocon missed out on scoring points by a single position with his P11 finish. Haas has finally delivered a car that can not only compete in the mid-tier but dominate it. Ollie Bearman is a special talent who will be competing for points every week and has a real shot of earning Haas their first-ever podium, if we see more pandemonium from other less prepared teams in 2026.
Haas looks primed for their best-ever F1 season, and they didn’t disappoint in their 2026 debutant performance. Oliver Bearman pushed a furious pace that resulted in a P7 finish and six Championship Points. Teammate Esteban Ocon missed out on scoring points by a single position with his P11 finish. Haas has finally delivered a car that can not only compete in the mid-tier but dominate it. Ollie Bearman is a special talent who will be competing for points every week and has a real shot of earning Haas their first-ever podium, if we see more pandemonium from other less prepared teams in 2026.
P2: Scuderia Ferrari
Last Week: P2
Championship Points: 27
Points From Last GP: 27
We learnt that the Ferraris are extremely quick off the line, but poor tire management and questionable pit-lane strategies saw them fall out of contention in Australia. However, with their immense advantage off the grid, the Sprint should set up wonderfully for them in China. While Mercedes passed their first test with flying colours, this is what Ferrari fans have been waiting to see: if Ferrari can impose their will in the 2026 Sprints, they may give Mercedes a run for their money for the Championships.
P1: Mercedes
We learnt that the Ferraris are extremely quick off the line, but poor tire management and questionable pit-lane strategies saw them fall out of contention in Australia. However, with their immense advantage off the grid, the Sprint should set up wonderfully for them in China. While Mercedes passed their first test with flying colours, this is what Ferrari fans have been waiting to see: if Ferrari can impose their will in the 2026 Sprints, they may give Mercedes a run for their money for the Championships.
P1: Mercedes
Last Week: P1
Championship Points: 43
Points From Last GP: 43
Toto Wolff may literally have been the happiest man on planet Earth at the conclusion of Sunday’s race in Melbourne. Not only did Mercedes secure the one-two finish, but they cleared the next closest car by over 15.5 seconds. Mercedes is the team to beat, George Russell is the driver to beat, and Mercedes is in a prime position to take control of both the Constructors and Drivers Championships in China.
By: Conner Rowntree
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