Get ready to witness a truly unpredictable championship where established hierarchies take on new giants, like the Audi F1 team, in 2026.
The 2025 Formula 1 season has been nothing short of a spectacular showcase, delivering the intense on-track action and record-breaking engagement that have cemented the sport’s global popularity. As the team at On The Wing prepares to offer fans front-row seats to the next era of Grand Prix racing, let’s reflect on the defining moments of the past season and look forward to what’s in store for 2026.
Reflecting on a season of shifting power
The year saw the F1 calendar reach a record-equalling 24 Grands Prix, making it the joint-busiest season ever. This packed schedule delivered drama from Melbourne to Las Vegas.
The closest title fight in 15 years
For the first time in 15 years, the Driver Championship came down to a thrilling, three-way battle. The sport benefited from a fiercely competitive title fight between McLaren’s young stars, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and the reigning champion, Max Verstappen.
- McLaren’s success was rooted in a strong car balance, attributed to upgraded suspension geometry and new aerodynamic features, allowing them to manage tyre temperatures better than their competitors. This advantage saw Norris and Piastri go head-to-head for the title, generating excitement reminiscent of F1’s classic rivalries.
- A massive highlight for British fans was Lando Norris’s first-ever win at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, beating out his teammate Piastri for a sensational home victory.
- After a challenging start to the year for Red Bull, Verstappen mounted a strong comeback in the second half of the season. His late-season win at the Las Vegas Grand Prix (despite the controversial post-race disqualification of the two leading McLaren drivers) served as a huge motivational boost, showing the relentless spirit of the former champion.
Ferrari, frustration, and a first podium
The 2025 season brought significant narratives across the paddock:
- Lewis Hamilton had his first full season with Ferrari, which he described as his most difficult due to the car’s inconsistency. While he scored points, the lack of performance parity left him qualifying last at the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
- Veteran driver Nico Hülkenberg secured his first-ever F1 podium finish at Silverstone. This long-awaited result for the popular driver was a feel-good moment in a season dominated by younger stars.
- Teams like Williams and Racing Bulls showed significant improvement, with Williams achieving more points in the first half of the season than they had in the entirety of the previous year.
Off-track momentum and record attendance
Formula 1 continued its growth trajectory in 2025, experiencing record-breaking attendance. The sport saw 3.9 million fans attend the first 14 races, with Silverstone alone drawing crowds of 500,000 over the Grand Prix weekend. This growth was fueled by continued digital engagement and the blockbuster success of F1 The Movie, which surpassed $600 million at the box office.
New teams, new battles, and the Audi F1 team
The 2026 season marks one of the biggest rule changes in a decade, promising a seismic shift in the competitive order and providing fans with unmissable opportunities to witness the dawn of a new F1 era.
The biggest headline for 2026 is the arrival of the Audi F1 team, entering the sport as a full works team after acquiring the Sauber Group.
The Audi F1 Team will develop its own power unit at its state-of-the-art Competence Centre Motorsport facility in Neuburg an der Donau, Germany. This marks the return of a dedicated German factory team to the grid.
Nico Hülkenberg, fresh off his first podium, has signed a multi-year deal to spearhead the Audi F1 Team in 2026, bringing valuable experience to the new project alongside young talent Gabriel Bortoleto.
Fans can look forward to a potentially expanded grid as Cadillac is set to join as the 11th team (powered initially by Ferrari engines), expanding the field to 22 cars for the first time since 2016.
The engine supplier list is also dramatically changing:
- Ford returns to F1, partnering with Red Bull Powertrains.
- Honda splits from Red Bull to supply Aston Martin exclusively.
- Alpine switches from its own Renault engine to Mercedes power.
Attending the new era
The rules reset means 2026 is the perfect year for fans to experience F1 live, as the competitive landscape will be reset, guaranteeing high drama from the first Grand Prix.
- Witnessing the Audi F1 Team launch and its debut race is a must for any motorsport enthusiast. You could explore race packages near Audi’s German base, or better yet, attend a race where the new team will be expected to make a statement.
- The arrival of the American Cadillac team and the ongoing success of the Las Vegas Grand Prix will make attending the US races in Austin, Miami, or Vegas an even bigger spectacle.
- The new 2026 cars will be visually and technically distinct, being 30kg lighter than the 2025 cars and active aerodynamics replacing the traditional DRS, plus a shift to a 50/50 split between the combustion engine and electrical power.
The 2025 season delivered chaos, brilliance, and a record level of excitement. The 2026 season, with the Audi F1 team joining a revolutionary new technical era, promises to be even more unpredictable.
Whether you want premium hospitality at the British Grand Prix to watch Hülkenberg’s new team take on the grid, or a full-package trip to the Las Vegas Grand Prix to experience the sport’s greatest spectacle, On The Wing creates the perfect itinerary.
We handle everything: securing prime grandstand seats or paddock club access, arranging luxury hotels, and coordinating local excursions.
Contact On The Wing today to design your tailored 2026 F1 package and secure your place in the stands.
