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2026 season · 22 drivers · 11 teams · 23 races

Formula 1,from lights out.

A fan-made guide for anyone who just watched their first race and wants to know what happened.

Start the guide
Oscar Piastri's McLaren MCL40
Liauzh · CC BY 4.0

On track · 01 / 22

Oscar Piastri

McLaren MCL40

Start here

Five chapters · 30 min

  1. 01

    A race weekend, Friday to Sunday

    5 minRead →
  2. 02

    How overtaking works

    5 minSoon
  3. 03

    Tyres and strategy

    7 minSoon
  4. 04

    Flags and what they mean

    4 minSoon
  5. 05

    Inside the car

    8 minSoon

The car

One real 2026 car, labelled

Part by part.

The Williams FW48 at speed in qualifying, side on.
01 · The car · Shanghai, 2026Williams FW48, in qualifying.
  • Halo
  • Power unit
  • Rear wing · active aero
  • Front wing
  • Tyre
  • Sidepod

Photo Liauzh · CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Power unit
1.6 L V6 turbo hybrid
Minimum weight
768 kg
Wheelbase
3,400 mm max
Aerodynamics
Active, two modes

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