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@ dmerinof1 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Part 2.

And for all you Ferrari fans out there, you can start drooling with this photo sequence.

By our Paddock Correspondent in Sakhir

Standing at Turn 4 as the sun dips behind the Sakhir main grandstand, the sound of Formula 1 has changed. There’s a distinct, high-pitched whine of energy harvesting that competes with the roar of the internal combustion engine. Welcome to 2026: the year F1 went "active," and the paddock went into a full-blown meltdown.

The Great "Lift and Coast" Scandal

The primary chatter over espresso in the motorhomes isn't about top speeds, but about the lack of them. Under the new 50/50 power split between the engine and the battery, we’ve seen a tactical shift that has some purists reaching for their smelling salts. Drivers aren't just "managing" anymore; they are lifting and coasting in qualifying.

The "scandal," as the tabloids have dubbed it, centers on the sheer volume of energy recovery required. To have enough "juice" for the main straight, drivers are effectively coasting 50 meters earlier than last year into the heavy braking zones. Watching a three-time champion back off the throttle while the timing screen is still purple feels inherently wrong—it’s like watching a sprinter check their watch mid-dash.

Speed vs. Style: The Cornering Conundrum

Technically, the cars are "nimbler"—code for smaller and lighter—but they are visibly slower through the high-speed sweeps. With narrower tires and a significant reduction in downforce to accommodate the active aero (the "X-mode" and "Z-mode" wings), the cars look nervous.

Fernando Alonso wasn't exaggerating when he noted high-speed corners are nearly 50 km/h slower. The "snappy" nature of the rear end is keeping the drivers busy, but for those of us on the pit wall, the "yo-yo" effect on the straights is the real story. The cars accelerate like rockets, then hit an "energy wall" at 290 km/h unless they’ve saved enough battery for the new Manual Override Mode.

A Tale of Two Americans: Ford vs. (Ferrari) Cadillac

The most delicious irony of the 2026 season remains the American "civil war." We have a classic Ford vs. Ferrari battle brewing, though with a modern twist that would make Carroll Shelby chuckle in his grave.

Cadillac has arrived as the 11th team, but until their own power unit is ready in 2028, they are "borrowing" some Italian magic. In the paddock, the joke is that Cadillac’s new slogan should be "The Standard of the World... by way of Maranello." * Watching the Red Bull-Ford battle the Cadillac-Ferrari is surreal. It’s a bit like ordering a burger and being served a five-course degustation menu; it’s an American brand name, but the soul is pure Modena.

One rival team principal was overheard saying, "It’s hard for Ford to claim they’re 'First on Race Day' when the Cadillac has such a distinct Italian accent."

If Cadillac manages to beat the Ford-powered Red Bulls this season, expect the "Ford vs. Ferrari" memes to break the internet. It seems that in 2026, the shortest path from Detroit to the podium still runs through Italy.

The Verdict

We’re at the dawn of a "thinking man's" Formula 1. It’s less about brute force and more about electrical chess. The cars might be slower in the corners, and the "lift-and-coast" tactics might feel like a scandal today, but as the sun sets on Bahrain, one thing is certain: the technical race has never been more frantic.

Inspired by Kimi Raikkonen's book of F1 haiku poems.

Norris

Lando races fast, McLaren’s star with boyish charm, Tracks bend to his will.

Max

Max, fierce on the grid, Red Bull’s lion roars ahead, Victory his prey.

Russell

George stands so tall, Mercedes’ grace in silver gleams, Speed crowns his resolve.

Piastri

Oscar, calm and swift, McLaren’s quiet force ascends, Future meets the now.

Antonelli

Kimi, young and bold, Mercedes’ hope in shadows grows, Wheels chase destiny.

Albon

Alex, steady hand, Williams’ spark with Thai pride soars, Laughter fuels his race.

Ocon

Esteban, fierce and proud, Haas's fire cuts through the pack, Grit shapes his triumph.

Stroll

Lance rides green with poise, Aston’s heir in silence moves, Wealth steers steady wheels.

LH

Lewis, king of speed, Seven crowns in silver shine, Legacy drives on.

Leclerc

Charles, Ferrari’s prince, Red heart races with pure grace, Dreams chase Monaco.

Hulk

Nico, seasoned force, Haas’s rock with German steel, Time proves his resolve.

Bear

Ollie, bold and new, Lil' cub with fearless stride, Youth ignites the track.

Yuki

Yuki, small but fierce, Red Bull's spark ignites, Speed defies his size.

Sainz (fils)

Carlos, smooth and strong, Williams’ flame with Spanish flair, Wins bloom from his fight.

Hadjar

Isack, rising star, Racing Bulls’ hope with daring grip, Future’s wheels turn fast.

Gasly

French speed, sharp and keen, Alpine's blue, a fighting heart, Points hard-won, he strives.

Lawson

Kiwi talent bright, Sudden chance, a racing thrill, Future's path unfolds.

Doohan

A Doohan's young name, Alpine's hope, speed takes its hold, Future's track awaits.

Bortoleto

Brazilian star's rise, Formula three, a swift pace, Audi's road ahead.

Alonso

Old lion still roars, Asturian steel, fierce and bold, Magic, ever burns.

Look, if you’re hanging around the paddock in Bahrain, the only thing louder than the all-new V6 power units is the chatter about Colton Herta. As a seasoned journo who’s seen many a driver "risk it for the biscuit," Herta’s move is—to put it in F1 terms—an absolute "sending it" into Turn 1 without checking the mirrors.

Here’s the lowdown on the "Chili" of America and his high-stakes gamble with Cadillac and Hitech.

The "Super License" Sprint

First off, let’s talk about the Super License (SL) situation. It’s been the elephant in the room for years. Despite being a nine-time IndyCar winner, Herta still needs those elusive FIA points. By stepping into a Formula 2 seat with Hitech for 2026, he’s basically going "back to school." If he clinches a top-10 finish in the F2 standings, combined with his Cadillac FP1 sessions, he finally hits that magic 40-point mark. No SL, no F1 seat. It’s that simple.

The "Pirelli Whisperer" Challenge

In IndyCar, Colton was a master of the Firestones, but Pirelli rubber is a whole different beast. F2 tires are notoriously "diva-ish"—they have a tiny operating window and a cliff that drops off faster than a backmarker’s blue-flagged lap.

The Risk: If he can't get his head around the thermal degradation, he’ll be "falling through the field" while the European kids, who’ve been on Pirellis since karting, eat his lunch.

The "Rookie" Veteran Paradox

It’s a bizarre sight for us hacks. You’ve got a guy who’s won at Long Beach and COTA, acting as a test driver for the new Cadillac F1 Team, while battling 18-year-olds in the feeder series.

The Teammates: Cadillac locked in Valtteri Bottas and Sergio "Checo" Perez for their debut 2026 season. That’s 500+ starts of experience. Colton is the "apprentice," but the pressure is massive. If he doesn’t dominate or at least "look the part" in F2, that dream seat for 2027 or 2028 might just vanish into the gravel trap.

The "Silly Season" Stakes

Cadillac is the 11th team on the grid, and they’ve spent a fortune ($450 million expansion fee!) to be here. They want an American star, but they won’t take a "passenger."

The Verdict: This F2 campaign is a "glass house" season. Everyone is watching. If he bottles it in F2, it’s not just his F1 hopes that take a hit—it’s the reputation of the whole IndyCar "ladder."

Journo's Note: "He’s trading a guaranteed front-running seat in the States for a chance to be 'best of the rest' in Europe. It's high-risk, high-reward, but if he pulls it off, it’ll be the biggest 'I told you so' in the history of the paddock."

How did it go in testing?

In the Barcelona paddock, the buzz around Colton Herta’s F2 pre-season test with Hitech TGR has been nothing short of electric. The American spent the three days "finding his feet" on the tricky Pirelli rubber, showing a progressive climb up the timing sheets that had the scribes nodding in approval. After hovering around the bottom of the top 10 on day one, he really "sent it" by the final day, clocking a personal best of 1:23.751 in the morning session to sit P6, just a few tenths off the ultimate pace setter Rafael Câmara.

Herta capped off the test with a massive statement in the final afternoon session, moving up to P4 on the classification. While many teams were focused on high-fuel "long runs" and race simulations, Herta managed to keep his Hitech nose ahead of teammate Ritomo Miyata in nearly every representative session. It’s clear the "Pirelli cliff" is the biggest hurdle; the IndyCar veteran noted that the thermal degradation is a world away from what he’s used to, but his ability to adapt to the "diva" characteristics of the F2 car suggests he won't be a backmarker for long.