McLaren’s second constructors’ title defence is off to a horrific start here in the 2026 Formula 1 season after they botched the opening two races – the Australian and Chinese Grand Prix. The Papayas are currently third in the constructors’ standings with 18 points, but are a whopping 80 points adrift of Mercedes, who are head and shoulders above the rest.
They must get their act together fast if they plan on winning the constructors’ title for the third straight year. The Woking-based outfit should start with the Japanese Grand Prix, to be held at the Suzuka Circuit this weekend, to tack on points before the long summer break.
Red Bull are also off to a lacklustre start after finishing third last year due to the underwhelming results of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar so far, and the former has made headlines for the wrong reasons recently.
Learn more about the latest Japanese Grand Prix 2026 updates, courtesy of SBOTOP.
McLaren off to a disastrous start
As mentioned, McLaren are third in the constructors’ standings, but that may be fool’s gold, considering what happened in their opening two races in Australia and China.
Defending champion Lando Norris finished fifth in Melbourne, but suffered a DNS in China due to an electrical problem with the power unit of the MCL40. Meanwhile, Papaya teammate Oscar Piastri has yet to secure a point this year after consecutive DNS in the opening two races due to a similar issue.
Following further investigation, it was revealed that Norris’ battery was plagued by a software problem, prompting the team to remove it from the car immediately. As for Piastri, his MCL40 has a hardware issue with an auxiliary component connected to the battery.
But despite the tricky start to 2026, Norris still believes there’s enough time for them to turn things around, especially after an encouraging start in Suzuka. During FP1, Norris and Piastri finished third and fourth, respectively, beating Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, logging less than two seconds slower than frontrunner George Russell.
Red Bull’s Verstappen in a grumpy mood
Max Verstappen’s frustrations boiled over during a recent Japanese Grand Prix media availability, ordering Giles Richards to leave after a tense confrontation over an interaction between the pair last year. His anger at the British reporter stems from being asked about his altercation with George Russell in last year’s Spanish Grand Prix and falling short in the title race.
The Red Bull driver is off to a lacklustre start this year, failing to finish in China after finishing only sixth in Australia. The four-time world champion has also vented his ire at the revamped Formula 1 regulations on multiple occasions, likening the sport to Mario Kart. Moreover, Verstappen acknowledged that he’ll likely not win a fifth consecutive Japanese Grand Prix due to Red Bull’s lack of performance.
History
The Japanese Grand Prix is one of the oldest events in the Formula 1 calendar, as Japan was the only nation to host a Formula 1 race until Malaysia joined the calendar in 1999. Before, the Japanese Grand Prix has always been one of the last races of the season, making it the venue for many title-deciding races.
For the longest time, the Japanese Grand Prix was held at the Fuji Speedway before switching to Suzuka in 2009. The 2020 and 2021 editions were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This event will continue to take place at the Suzuka Circuit until at least 2029.
Michael Schumacher is the winningest driver with six victories, including a three-peat from 2000 to 2002, while Lewis Hamilton is the winningest active driver with five. Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel are level with four victories each, with the former winning each of the last four editions after the COVID-19 disruption.
What are the odds?
The Japanese Grand Prix 2026 odds expect Mercedes to maintain their form, especially after a successful FP1 a few hours ago. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli are pegged at 1.50 and 3.50 to win the race. Lewis Hamilton – fresh from securing his first pole with the Scuderia – could take the third podium spot at 8.00, with Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc lurking at 9.00. Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri are distant challengers for podium spots at 19.00, 21.00, and 29.00, while Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar is at 201.00, level with Ollie Bearman. Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, and Gabriel Bortoleto are left fighting for the remaining Top 10 spots at 301.00, 451.00, and 451.00.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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