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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Kieran Jackson

F1 2026: What is the pecking order after testing? And which team are title favourites ahead of new season?

After 11 days, 22 sessions and 88 hours of pre-season testing, the next time we’ll see these new Formula 1 cars on track will be the season-opening race in Australia in a fortnight.

Who’s the lead team? Well, every frontrunner will give you a different answer, deflecting away from their own strength and promise to put pressure on other outfits. Whether there’s been any ‘sandbagging’ – a term which means hiding true performance – over the testing period remains to be seen.

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