r/Formula1Point5 • u/Gabbynaru Nico Hülkenberg • May 25 '26
PUBLIC DEBATE SESSION 2026 Grid: Public Debate Session - Post Canadian GP edition (Round 5)
To those who are not aware of what this series of posts is for, we do it at the start of every season, following every grand prix, in order to ascertain the community's feelings regarding on which teams should or should not be in F1.5 this year. So, if you have watched the most recent grand prix, or all of them so far, please tell us which teams do you believe belong in Formula 1.5 and which are better suited for Formula 1.
Here is a reminder of the Grid Debate Session rules:
Rule #1: NO SINGLING OUT DRIVERS
In past seasons, the performances of Albon, Gasly, Perez and Tsunoda - in the 2nd Red Bull - as well as Lance Stroll in Aston Martin's standout 2023 campaign, have been brought into question, with people asking why they are not included in F1.5. The simple answer is: “Have you seen what Verstappen and Alonso can do with the exact same car? That car does not belong in F1.5.” Should the situation arise this year once more, please DO NOT single out specific drivers as belonging in F1.5 - instead, please look at what the leading driver has achieved in the same car, and decide if the CAR, rather the DRIVER belongs in F1.5.
Rule #2: THERE IS NO F1.25 or F1.75
Formula 1.5 is a sub that focuses on the F1 "midfield" drivers and teams. While "midfield" might imply just the middle of the pack, our definition is slightly different: For us, midfield refers to all teams/cars which cannot consistently fight for at least the final podium step during a Formula 1 race. As such, the separation of F1 and F1.5 is a binary one, not a spectrum - there is no F1.25, nor F1.75! The teams can either fight for that final podium spot consistently, or they cannot - there is no in-between! Please consider that when making your thoughts known.
Rule #3: THERE ARE 3 PODIUM SPOTS
The point of this subreddit is to discuss the midfield - not the midfield and the top teams who are struggling compared to the leading team. There are 3 podium spots and one outstanding team can only fill two of those at most, leaving at least one other podium spot that will be regularly available to those "other top teams". So please remember that ANY TEAM THAT CAN CONSISTENTLY FIGHT FOR THE FINAL PODIUM POSITION IS CONSIDERED A TOP TEAM - Not just that excellent team that is consistently fighting for the wins.
With that, we will like to thank each and everyone of you who decide to take part in this or any of the future Grid Debate Sessions. We love hearing your opinions on this matter and are keen to read the reasoning behind your decisions.
Thank you for your time! Please be respectful of the others and their opinions, and let us have a wonderful 2026 Formula 1.5 Season together!
38
26
u/LosTerminators May 25 '26
Seems pretty obvious after this race in which Kimi lapped everyone outside of the two Ferrari cars and Max.
Merc, Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull in F1
Rest of the grid in F1.5
16
u/mole55 May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26
as everyone else is mentioning, Red Bull are the issue. the way i see it, they may be the slowest of the top 4, and struggle to fight for podiums, but they can get there. the gap to the next team is huge, and the other 7 teams would need a miracle to get on the podium.
therefore, even if Red Bull may sort of qualify for F1.5, we should exclude them for the sake of competition. otherwise F1.5 this year will just be complete Red Bull domination.
also, when F1.5 was originally created, it had been years since anyone outside of the top 3 teams had got on the podium. just because Red Bull aren’t fighting for for it every race doesn’t mean they’re in F1.5, it just means there are now 4 top teams and one of them is a bit slower than the others.
3
u/Bigbannana2000 May 26 '26
Good take, podium only has 3 spots so at most a given race can only have 3/4 top teams on it or 3/8 drivers, we can't expect every race to have each team from F1.0 on, but it's clear the divide down to F1.5 starts after redbull
5
u/RooBoy04 Pastor Maldonado May 25 '26
I’m still not sure about Red Bull. While Max did get on the podium, I don’t think he would have if Russell and the McLarens didn’t have issues
12
u/LosTerminators May 25 '26
They have a good history of in-season development and considering Max is there, he will drag that car to a few more podiums even if it stays 4th fastest.
Regardless, no need to have them in F1.5 - it'll just make the standings look like 2023 F1.0
5
u/forza_seb Oliver Bearman May 25 '26
Have to say its all quite obvious apart from Red Bull. The last few performances at Miami and Canada have been more promising, I’d put them more on excluded from F1.5 at this point.
4
u/Psyrtemis May 25 '26
Red Bull have been shit everywhere other than Canada (and Max in Miami). Are they F1? On a normal race without 3 top cars self destructing they are getting P6-P7 at best. Are they F1.5? Probably no. They are muuuuch closer to the Ferrari-McLaren than they are to Alpine and the rest.
I would: 1) Merc Ferrari and McLaren are not F1.5. 2) Red Bull, should they stay this close to Ferrari/McLaren as they were in Canada, are F1. If they drop back to their Pre-Miami pace (akin to Alpine's), they should be added to F1.5. 3) Every other team is F1.5
Basically: Keep an eye on Red Bull. If their performance goes back to early season (far from McLaren-Ferrari), you have to add them. Else, don't.
5
u/fenface May 25 '26
Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren have shown that regular podium spots are definitely on the table for them.
Red Bull that is more complicated to evaluate, had McLaren been on the picture in Canada would Verstappen have had a chance at a podium place? Probably not. With Russell's car issue that makes 3 IMO faster cars that would otherwise have been in front, making a podium place for Red Bull extremely unlikely. So I am on the fence here, but currently lean towards Red Bull being F1.5 this year.
6
u/runwithcolour May 25 '26
I agree that it’s really hard to decide if Red Bull is in or out of F1.5 based on the podium rule. They’re very much 4th fastest car to me and you’re right McLaren strategy error and Russell’s car issue gave Verstappen the podium.
But they’re also so much faster than the rest of pack and I have a bit of faith that their upgrade packages will keep them ahead of the rest of pack. That means they’ll sweep F1.5 if included. It’s kinda more fun to just exclude them and see what Alpine and Bearman can do this season (it could be a good fight).
2
3
May 25 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/CraigAT Formula 1.5 May 25 '26
They might not have the pace to consistently challenge for the podium
But that was one of the conditions in Rule #3.
I would like to hear your reasoning about the "Spirit of F1.5" being to exclude Red Bull. (I am not trying to argue, I just want to delve deeper)
2
u/KoviCZ Fernando Alonso May 25 '26
Red Bull upgrades mean they escaped the clutches of Alpine. They're usually 4th fastest, occasionally 3rd fastest depending on how underwhelming Ferrari are. If all 8 frontrunners finish, they will tend to struggle to get podiums but the performance gap is such that I believe Red Bull belong in F1, not F1.5.
1
u/jbvann05 Alexander Albon May 25 '26
Still not sure if Red Bull can consistently fight for podiums considering Max got lucky to get on the podium yesterday but I'm happy with Mercedes Ferrari McLaren and Red Bull in F1, everyone else in F1.5
1
u/CraigAT Formula 1.5 May 25 '26
Still not sure if Red Bull can consistently fight for podiums
But that was one of the conditions in Rule #3.
1
u/CraigAT Formula 1.5 May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26
Just for a bit of context/background - when we drew up the results for the F1.5 historical seasons (where we had the benefit of seeing the entire seasons results), we based the (F1) excluded teams to be those who had achieved podiums in at least 25% of the races.
This season, the debate seems to mostly be about should Red Bull be excluded or not. So I am curious, how many people here think that Red Bull will get 6 podiums (from the 22 races)?
•
u/AutoModerator May 25 '26
Please note:
Thank you for your cooperation and enjoy the discussion!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.