BBC's Back at Base previews 2026 F1 revolution with Antonelli, Bearman and Cadillac debut
BBC Radio 5 Live's Back at Base captures the run-up to F1's 2026 regulation reset
The new year has rung in and, for Formula 1, 2026 is here at last. BBC Radio 5 Live's F1: Chequered Flag – Back at Base, an IMG Production for the BBC hosted by Rosamund Pike with co-hosts and executive producers Sarah Holt and Holly Samos, has released Series 3, Episode 7: 'Shooting for the Stars'.
The 29-minute episode, broadcast on 18 Feb 2026, looks inside the closely guarded F1 factories as teams chase a landmark year of change. With redesigned cars and the potential for a new competitive order, the programme notes that only when the cars break cover at the first race in Australia will the secret be out.
Mercedes: Antonelli moves out and Vesti sims the 2026 car
For Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, a fresh start for 2026 began closer to home as the teenager moved into his own house in San Marino. The next milestone in his preparations is a training camp in Florida with performance coach Sergi Avila, who already has a long list of physical goals for the Mercedes star.
Back at Mercedes' Brackley HQ, reserve driver Fred Vesti has been working on the driver simulator to unlock the secrets of the 2026 car. Holt and Samos visited the Danish driver at base to find out what he's learned about the new machine so far.
Haas: Bearman suits up ahead of rule changes
Haas driver Ollie Bearman is also in full planning mode for the season ahead. On a flying visit back to Britain he donned his 2026 race suit and new Haas kit for a series of photoshoots. Like all F1 drivers, he is already thinking about getting back in the car and is viewing the new set of technical rule changes as an opportunity.
Cadillac counts down to F1 debut
At Cadillac's Silverstone base the fledgling team is counting down to its race debut. With just over 50 days until the team makes its Formula 1 race debut in Australia, hustle and bustle at the factory is in fifth gear, as Holt and Samos found on their latest visit.
There is an air of concentration in the race bays as the car build begins, overseen by chief mechanic Nathan Divey. Cadillac Formula 1 team CEO Dan Towriss wants to bring an American spin to Formula 1 and the team will unveil the livery for its 2026 car in a TV advert aired during the Super Bowl, watched by hundreds of millions around the world.
F1: Back at Base is an IMG Production for the BBC, hosted by Rosamund Pike. Co-hosts & Executive Producers are Sarah Holt and Holly Samos.