I've been an avid fan for several years.
Freaked out by Apple TV:
This year, in the US, coverage was switched from ESPN to Apple TV. In previous years, ESPN just passed-on the coverage actually provided by Sky Sports network (UK). I used the ESPN app on my TV streamer where ESPN would archive the coverage for after-the-fact, on-demand watching. So I could watch all the SkyF1 coverage when I wanted. No one cares about F1 in the US, so I could watch a Sunday race on Tuesday and not worry about any spoilers. I'm not enough of a fan to get up in the middle of the night to watch live coverage.
During the events, the F1 organization (Liberty Media?) themselves provide the video feed with cameras everywhere, leaderboard graphics and car sounds but no commentary - and it's well done. This "F1 feed" is provided in real-time during the events to various networks around the world (e.g. SkyF1) and those networks overlay live audio commentary in appropriate languages. F1 themselves also provide their own coverage with overlay commentary in English with their own on-air personalities. In prior years, the F1 coverage was only available online (computers, smart phones), blocked from watching on TV streamers or cable systems.
Apple TV is now providing coverage with the F1 commentary and also with the SkyF1 commentary. They also provide archives of both so you can watch later - although it took awhile to find the SkyF1 archives as they are presented differently in the Apple interface.
So now, we have a choice in the US.
I have in the past not liked the F1 coverage much and really liked the SkyF1 coverage. I guess I'm in the minority on that because a lot of online reviewers prefer F1 to Sky.
But last night I watched FP1 (Free Practice 1) with F1 coverage and FP2 on SkyF1, I found the SkyF1 coverage to be more informative, with more racing expertise, better pit-lane coverage, more of their own on-site cameras beyond the F1 feed and just more fun to watch. The F1 personalities almost annoy me for some reason or at best seemed boring to me. Also, since F1 coverage is tied to F1 management while SkyF1 is a paying customer, SkyF1 might give more independent and honest coverage of controversial issues.
So I have been freaked out since October worrying about the Apple coverage until I finally confirmed just last night that SkyF1 coverage is there and archived on Apple TV. Although some of the SkyF1 between-event coverage I like (e.g. Ted's Note Book segments) that I have previously watched via ESPN seem to be missing on Apple. (Time to send some feedback / requests.)
So first world problem solved (mostly).
I should add, that a lot of F1 fans in the US are not happy that they have to get a paid Apple TV subscription to watch F1 while in the past, they watched on ESPN which is on all the cable and satellite networks. I cut the cord awhile ago so I'm not as concerned with that.
Another opinion: Over the last few years, the "Drive to Survive" show on Netflix (and now the "F1" movie which I liked) have made F1 racing more popular in the US and resulted in 2 new races added in the US in addition to the existing Austin, TX event. I am not thrilled with some of the resulting hype. I think many new US F1 fans are more into the celebrity glitter and spectacle of F1 but less interested in the actual racing and I think the celebrity glitter and spectacle is being promoted by F1 mangement. I think the new Miami and Las Vegas "race tracks" are horrible tracks - especially the Miami which is in a parking lot. The track in Austin, where F1 has been coming for years is a proper race track.
Anyway, on to the racing and
@RVT1K 's OP.
Hybrid: I agree and last year (during SkyF1 commentary)
Martin Brundle opined that since the 2026 cars are using "sustainable fuels" which are carbon neutral (synthetic fuels are) that F! should get rid of the hybrids and go back to ICE. Interesting. (Probably an opinion you won't hear on F1's own coverage.) I noticed some strange stuff going in the practices, something like going more slowly into turns (than before) to charge the battery to get more power coming out of the turns. 50 / 50 ICE / Electric split makes for strange race car driving I guess. More stuff for the drivers to understand, strategize and deal with.
Aston Martin: Except for Alonso, I'm not a big fan of that team but still sad to see the problems they're having. I see
Adrian Newey having to explain things but isn't he more of an aerodynamics guy rather than an engine guy. I guess he's the boss now.
Cadillac: I think it will be a year or two for them to get really competitive - I think they say the same. Haas (the other "American Team") never did get very far from the back after several years so I hope Cadillac does better. Will be interesting when the get their own engine.
Merc: I have not been following the Merc shenanigans. I thought I heard somewhere that Ferrari also have some slightly-bend-the-rules stuff going on. Part of the game I guess, especially with the all new cars.
Ferrari and Red Bull looking good so far in the first 2 practices but McLaren seemed to have problems.
Anyway it's looks to be an interesting season. Looking forward to it.
