Orihara: When I was in junior high school, I watched F1 on TV and something that stood out were the McLarens with their Honda-powered cars. From that moment onwards, I knew that I wanted to join Honda and be a part of this incredible sport.

The next generation of Formula 1 power units is forcing drivers to confront a very different kind of workload, one defined less by flat-out sprints and more by brutal downshifting patterns and relentless lift-and-coast management.

The truth is there could be a good fight on our hands, says pre-season title favourite George Russell about Mercedes rivals into F1s new era; watch every round of the 2026 Formula 1 season live on Sky Sports F1,

An engine controversy, ahead of the first pre-season test, has seen Ferrari, Audi and Honda complain to the FIA

Mercedes driver George Russell said: "The cars looked really cool out on the circuit and that's positive for our sport. "They are quite different for us as drivers but, once you get your head around it, driving them is quite intuitive. "It's enjoyable being behind the wheel and there's a lot for fans to look forward to with these new regulations."

Mercedes will officially launch the W17 in February but has already taken off the covers on its 2026 Formula 1 livery.

The new F1 2026 power units will require downshifting along straights and lift-and-coast, but the F1 drivers don't appear too