The 2026 Formula 1 season has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, with some teams and drivers exceeding expectations while others have fallen short. As an expert commentator, I've analyzed the season so far and identified the biggest disappointments, offering my insights and opinions on each. Here's my take on the top disappointments of the 2026 F1 season, with a focus on the teams and drivers who have struggled to live up to the hype.
The Disappointing Teams
Aston Martin-Honda
One of the most talked-about teams this season, Aston Martin-Honda, has been a major disappointment. The team was once seen as a potential race-winning force, with a state-of-the-art factory, a dedicated engine partnership with Honda, and the legendary designer Adrian Newey at the helm. However, the AMR26 has struggled to deliver, with a single point in 11 races, and only a slight improvement in Hungary. What makes this so disappointing is the potential that was once there, and the fact that so many promising elements have failed to fire. In my opinion, the team's struggles are a result of a hard development pivot at a time when much of the car had already been signed off, and the challenges posed by rescaling for Honda. I believe that with the improved Honda engine arriving, Aston Martin has the potential to become one of the most captivating comebacks since McLaren's renaissance after its dire period in the mid-2010s.
Williams
Williams has also been a major disappointment, with a season that has been catastrophic and a clear squandering of the talents of Carlos Sainz. The team has missed essential deadlines and the pre-season shakedown, which has put them on the back foot. Their issues have been amplified by a car that's overweight and what appears to have been a development U-turn for some of the car's design features. I think that Williams has been held back by the new regulations, and its struggles are a result of the challenges posed by the new power units and the need to regroup and add new people and systems. However, I remain hopeful that the team can turn things around and become a competitive force again.
Haas
Haas has also been a disappointment, with the team now having the might of Toyota beside it. While I did think that the partnership with Toyota would put the team on a more stable footing, both financially and in terms of R&D, I'm not completely sure what sort of a contribution it has made. The team has gone backwards as the season has progressed, and I believe that the lack of clarity within the team about which driver is performing better and how much better is a major issue. I think that Haas needs to find its footing and become a more stable and competitive team.
The Disappointing Drivers
George Russell
George Russell has been a disappointment, but not necessarily because of his driving. While the new regulations have uncovered something in his driving that hasn't been an issue earlier in his career, I still believe that he has everything needed to be a world champion. It's tragic that his opportunity has come just at the time he's met with the least malleable F1 car of his career so far when it comes to how he drives. I think that Russell has the potential to turn things around and become a champion, but he needs to find a way to adapt to the new car and regulations.
The Missing Technical Details
From a working-in-media standpoint, I've been disappointed by F1's seeming reluctance to lean into incorporating more battery data into broadcasts. The lack of clarity within many teams about which driver is performing better and how much better is also a major issue. It's annoying that all our usual metrics have to be taken with a grain of salt because sometimes deployment won't work, sometimes the PU 'self-learning' won't play along, and sometimes there is no parts consistency across the two cars. I think that F1 needs to do a better job of communicating technical details to its fans, and providing more data and insights into the races.
The Way Forward
As we move forward into the second half of the season, I believe that there is still hope for the teams and drivers who have struggled so far. Aston Martin has the potential to become one of the most captivating comebacks, and Williams and Haas need to find their footing and become more competitive. I think that the new power units and regulations have presented a unique set of challenges, but I remain hopeful that the teams and drivers can turn things around and deliver some exciting racing. In my opinion, the 2026 F1 season is far from over, and there is still a lot to play for.
