Lewis Hamilton\u00a0<\/p>\n
It is a huge year ahead for Lewis Hamilton<\/a>. The seven-time world champion is looking to banish the disappointments of a miserable debut season with Ferrari<\/a>.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n After so much hype and excitement, 2025 proved to be a hugely underwhelming season for both Ferrari and Hamilton, who failed to record a grand prix podium for the first time in his career.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ferrari was woefully uncompetitive and endured a winless campaign, but Hamilton\u2019s lacklustre performances, including three consecutive Q1 exits at the end of the year, left questions needing to be asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n Even more so when considering Hamilton was comprehensively beaten by teammate Charles Leclerc<\/a>, who still achieved a pole position and seven podiums in the SF-25.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 2026 regulations should play more into a reenergised Hamilton\u2019s strengths compared to the previous ground-effect generation, but it remains to be seen whether the legendary Briton, now 41, can rediscover his once mesmerising form, or whether he is in decline and potentially heading for retirement.\u00a0<\/p>\n Isack Hadjar\u00a0 Isack Hadjar<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Isack Hadjar<\/a> has been given the opportunity of a lifetime in receiving promotion to Red Bull<\/a>, where he could have a car capable of winning the world championship at his disposal.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the same time, Hadjar has taken on what has become known as the F1\u2019s poisoned chalice in the high-pressure, precarious job of being Max Verstappen<\/a>\u2019s Red Bull teammate. This position ruined the reputations of several talented drivers including Pierre Gasly<\/a>, Alex Albon<\/a>, Sergio Perez<\/a>, Liam Lawson <\/a>and most recently, Yuki Tsunoda<\/a>).\u00a0<\/p>\n Since 2018, all of Verstappen\u2019s teammates have struggled, and ultimately been swiftly replaced, at Red Bull. Now it is Hadjar\u2019s turn to be handed the hardest, and least rewarding job in F1.\u00a0<\/p>\n This comes after Hadjar enjoyed an impressive rookie season at Red Bull\u2019s sister team Racing Bulls<\/a>, where the 21-year-old Frenchman claimed an outstanding maiden podium at the Dutch Grand Prix.\u00a0<\/p>\n But the stakes are very different at Red Bull and the spotlight is harsh and unforgiving. Perhaps under new management, and with Helmut Marko gone, things may be slightly easier for Hadjar, but he won\u2019t have anywhere to hide in 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Hadjar will be given time but if he cannot get close to Verstappen\u2019s incredibly high level of performance, questions will be raised. This is a big chance – and an even bigger test – for Hadjar.\u00a0<\/p>\n Oscar Piastri\u00a0 Oscar Piastri has a point to prove in 2026<\/p>\n Oscar Piastri <\/a>has a point to prove in 2026. Last season, Piastri enjoyed the strongest season of his fledgling F1 career to date as he finished third in the world championship, claiming seven victories and six poles.\u00a0<\/p>\n Despite the positives, it was a bruising end to the campaign for Piastri, who ended up disappointed after missing out on a maiden world championship by just 13 points to McLaren <\/a>teammate Lando Norris<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 24-year-old, in just his third F1 campaign, led the standings for 15 rounds and long looked like the McLaren driver to beat, but Piastri\u2019s 2025 season dramatically unravelled in the second half of the year.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n After seemingly being in control for so long, a run of uncharacteristic mistakes and sub-par performances saw Piastri go from title favourite to championship outsider come the three-way showdown in Abu Dhabi.\u00a0<\/p>\n 2026 may not be as make-or-break for Piastri compared to the other drivers on this list, but he still needs to make a statement to avoid being seen as second-fiddle to F1\u2019s reigning world champion.\u00a0<\/p>\n Esteban Ocon\u00a0 Esteban Ocon was beaten by Ollie Bearman in 2025<\/p>\n Esteban Ocon<\/a> has had the pressure piled onto him by his own team heading into the 2026 F1 season.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ocon, who joined Haas<\/a> last year from Alpine, was outscored by rookie F1 teammate Ollie Bearman <\/a>in his first campaign with the American outfit. Bearman scored three points more than Ocon and outqualified the Frenchman, while he also claimed Haas\u2019s best result of 2025 with a stunning drive to fourth in Mexico City.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Following the season, Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu delivered a brutal assessment in which he said \u201cnobody\u2019s satisfied with Esteban\u2019s sporting result last year\u201d, adding that he expected more from his lead driver, who finished 15th in the world championship.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Ocon responded by admitting he was not surprised to hear Komatsu\u2019s eye-opening criticism and knows he must do better in 2026. Another season in Bearman\u2019s shadow could put Ocon under threat of losing his drive, especially if the Haas lives up to its pre-season testing promise.\u00a0<\/p>\n Franco Colapinto\u00a0 Franco Colapinto will be under pressure from the off<\/p>\n The driver under the most pressure to save his F1 seat during the 2026 is undoubtedly Franco Colapinto<\/a>. Drafted in to replace the struggling Jack Doohan just seven races into 2025, Colapinto fared little better in the second Alpine <\/a>seat alongside Pierre Gasly<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"Isack](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/si202602180436.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Oscar](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/xpb_1396812_hires.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Esteban](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/xpb_1395796_hires.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Franco](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/xpb_1396303_hires.jpg\")
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